01x01 - Vanguard of Destiny!!

[bunniefuu]

You, a piddly little Nehalem, are standing
up to my, Juggernaut Maximum's, attacks?!

Too bad for you.

The next attack, for sure!

If you get that chance, that is.

But you no longer have a way to win!

Say what?!

I will ride to the next grade!

Ride! The Vanguard!

Descend, Dragonic Overlord!

Impossible!

I win.

Juggernaut Maximum lost? Man,
I've got such crappy luck!

Luck?

Damn it all!

Morikawa...

Just as freakishly good
as always, I see, Kai.

Miwa?

Have you had a winning streak
ever since you came back here?

Yeah, guess so.

You go, dude.

Hey, shop girl! Any of the
regulars better than this guy?

I don't have a clue.

No clue? Then it's decided!

Toshiki Kai is the best player in this store!

Hey, you! That's not what "no clue" means!

Shut up, loser!

Say that again, you...

Morikawa...

What? I called you a loser, loser.

Shut it! Things just didn't
go my way today, is all.

Yeah, right...

That's all it takes to be the best?

This level doesn't get me fired up at all.

How boring...

Aren't there any strong players around here?

Vanguard of Destiny!

With hundreds of millions of people
around the world playing card games,

they've naturally become
a part of our daily lives.

Cardfight! Vanguard is the card game
that gets most of our attention now.

And one of those cards let
me meet him once again.

Hitsue Middle School

And finally the battles of
Kawanakajima reach their cl*max!

Finally, the final battle!

In this one, Uesugi has
forces numbering 12000!

Announce a battle formation
called the "Wheel Winding"!

Sneak up to Shingen's main
force under the cover of fog!

His opponent: Takeda's forces number 8000!

Announce a battle formation called
the "Crane's Wing" and fight back!

But they're outnumbered!

Takeda's forces are in trouble!

His class is always so over-the-top...

With the battle upon him, Shingen
ends up losing his younger brother,

He's not Japanese, but he's such a
maniac about the Sengoku period...

and after the battle both
forces are exhausted.

What a weirdo.

And so, in this Sengoku
period of shrewd tactics...

Let me see here...

You! How would you survive, Aichi Sendou?

Yes?

What would you do to leave your
mark on the Sengoku period?

Uh... Um...

What's the matter, Aichi?

Haven't heard your voice in, like, forever!

You can't get any quieter than this guy!

What's the matter, Sendou?

Image! Form an image in your mind!

I-I... I would make sure I always
had a line of retreat behind me.

Man, what a coward!

He's, like, king of the wimps!

What a dope, as usual!

I mean, you can't get more small fry
than him. No, he's just perfect!

Sendou, that might be a good way to
survive during the Sengoku period,

but why don't you try imagining
yourself with a slightly bigger role.

I-I'm sorry...

Man, I screwed up big time...

Now then, this battle at Kawanakajima

caused him to lose his chance to
take control of the government...

But there's no way that I could appear
alongside all these amazing warriors!

Oh, I know. I bet that he could
even be in the Sengoku period.

The Vanguard warrior, Blaster Blade!

Who the hell are you?

I am Blaster Blade!

I have come from the United Sanctuary!

Are you some kind of damned monster?

Prepare yourself, fiend!

I will take you on!

It's no use...

There's no card in this pack
strong enough to beat that guy!

Do I just suck that bad?

Damn you, Toshiki Kai!

I was always the best player at that store!

To lose against some punk who just moved
into town... I won't let this stand!

I've got to get a card powerful
enough to defeat him somehow!

What's that small fry doing
with a grin on his face?

Wait, that's... a Vanguard card!

And it's Blaster Blade!

That's a legendary, powerful, rare card!

W-What is it, Morikawa?

Aichi Sendou... I didn't know
that you were a Vanguard Fighter.

A Vanguard Fighter?

Don't play dumb.

Anyone who fights with Vanguard
cards is a Vanguard Fighter.

You're one too, right?

No, you've got it wrong.

After all, I've never played a cardfight.

I'm not a Vanguard Fighter or anything.

Fine, whatever. Then show me the
card you have hidden in your pocket!

Seriously! It's actually Blaster Blade!

With this I can totally beat that guy!

Ooh, let me see!

Whoa, awesome!

I'm taking this guy straight to the shop!

Wait, Morikawa!

Don't take it from me!

I got that card from someone
special! It's important to me!

Wait!

Shut up already. You're not
a Vanguard Fighter, right?

I feel sorry for this card,
never getting to fight.

So I'll take it off your hands.

Okay, let's get to Card Capital!

Yeah!

G-Give it back... Give me back my card...

Kai! You and me, now!

You're that guy from yesterday...

Oh sure, talk big after beating me once!

We'll fight once again to decide once
and for all who the best in this shop is!

I don't want to.

What?

You suck at Vanguard.

Your fighting techniques are simplistic
and your strategy has no depth.

You rely too much on the
cards' brute strength.

I won't get anything out of
fighting you. So I won't.

Dude, that's harsh!

Won't get anything, huh?

Then if you win, I'll give you this card!

Ooh! That's Blaster Blade!

How rare! I didn't realize
anyone still had one.

Blaster Blade?

It couldn't be that card, right?

So, what'll it be?

Fine.

It's on.

My... My card...

Damn it, why? Why is my luck so bad?

It's not your luck. It's your skill.

Ride the Vanguard!

I'm pretty sure this is the
shop that Morikawa mentioned...

That's 6 damage. I win.

T-This shouldn't be!

And that's a wrap.

Here, it's yours.

Blaster Blade...

What? You don't seem so interested...

G-Give me my card back.

Who's this?

Aichi...

Morikawa, please!

It's very important to me!

Don't look at me!

Your card? You mean this one?

Yes, yes! That's mine!

Please give it back.

Why should I?

This card is now mine.

Hey...

U-Uh...

To we Vanguard Fighters, nothing is more
sacred than the results of a fight.

This guy challenged me to a fight
by betting this card, and lost.

But it's mine...

A card that is lost in a Vanguard fight can
only be taken back by a Vanguard fight.

T-Then, will you fight me?

Sure, I'm game.

Hold it! What are you saying, Aichi?

I thought you'd never played
a Vanguard fight before?

You don't even have a deck, right?

I've never played before,

but I've always wanted to, so I made a deck.

Seriously?

You're on. Sit over there.

Time for losers to get lost!

What are you lookin' at?

Same as you.

This is a fight between someone who has never played
Vanguard before and the strongest player in the store!

This is gonna be hilarious!

No, he's not the best yet!

Today was just a fluke...

Since you are a beginner, I will
explain the rules as we play.

Okay.

And before we begin, your deck won't be
complete without this Blaster Blade, yes?

Yes, that's right.

Fine, you can borrow it.

That should be a decent handicap for me.

Blaster Blade...

T-Thank you!

You're not just explaining the rules,
but lending a card to your opponent?

It's rare to see you act nice.

That's not the case.

I'll only explain the rules
once. Listen carefully.

We're beginning.

Right.

Picture it in your mind...

The two of us have appeared on a planet
similar to Earth called Cray, in spirit form.

There are only two powers
given to us weak forms...

One power, called "call", is to summon the
creatures that live on this planet, called "units".

The units we can summon
are the ones in our deck.

First, we each draw five cards from our deck.

These are the units which we can summon.

Each card has its own grade and ability cost.

The units' various abilities
are also written.

And then there is the
second power we are given:

the ability to possess units
with our spirits, called "ride".

Oh, I see.

Dude...

The units that we possess
are called our "Vanguards".

The word means "the one leading us forward".

Vanguard...

The one that leads...

Now, the games starts as we become
Vanguards on the planet Cray.

That card you chose to lay
down is a grade 0 unit, right?

Yes.

Good. Turn it over.

Ready? Stand up the Vanguard!

Lizard Runner Undeux!

For me...

Stardust Trumpeter! Stand up!

Now we are both standing on
the planet Cray as Vanguards.

Is it okay if I take the first turn?
That'll make explaining easier.

Sure.

First, I draw a card.

Now I can possess a unit one grade
higher than the current Vanguard.

Stack a unit on top of the Vanguard!

Ride the Embodiment of Armor, Bahr!

At the same time, you can call units
with a grade lower than your Vanguard.

These units are called the "rear-guard".

I call the Hope of Flame, Aermo!

With this, I have two units on the field.

And with them, I attack!

Although the player that goes
first can't on their first turn.

That ends my turn.

It's your turn now.

Right.

I'll draw a card...

Then, I'll ride the Little Sage, Marron!

A-And call Wingal, too!

Now we both have two units on the field.

Will you attack?

I-I'll attack!

Okay, good.

Then announce it and put
the Vanguard to rest.

I attack Bahr with my Vanguard, Marron!

When you attack, your Vanguard receives
power from the rear-guard unit behind it.

In that case, attack together with
the power of the rear-guard, Wingal!

Then, when you attack, you draw the top card
from your deck to check for a drive trigger.

Is there a mark on the
upper right of the card?

If not, then just add it to your hand.

So the attack was a success?

Yes.

All right...

Your attack hit my Vanguard.

This is the damage from that hit...

When I get a total of six damage, my
spirit vanishes from the planet Cray.

In other words, I lose. Understand?

Right...

Good. This time it's my turn. Here I go.

Ride the Dragon Knight Nehalem!

Call Bahr!

Looks like he's finally getting serious.

Aichi's gonna get his butt whipped good.

I attack Marron with Bahr!

Um... Bahr's power is 8000, and
Marron's power is 8000, so...

If the powers are equal, then
the attack goes through.

Then if Nehalem attacks after I get
hit by Marron, I'll take two damage?

However, you can weaken your opponent's
attack by using the cards in your hand.

In that case...

I guard with the Bringer of Good Luck, Epona!

The number written vertically
becomes your defense power.

Bahr's power disappears because
of your shield of 10000.

The attack is ineffective.

After the attack, the card
you used to guard is retired.

Now I attack Marron with Nehalem
combined with Aermo's power!

I don't guard.

Then I check for a drive trigger.

Now, it's your turn.

Right.

We both have 1 damage each.

Okay!

Ride the Knight of Silence, Gallatin!

Plus, I call Marron and Flogal!

I combine Wingal's power with
Gallatin and attack Nehalem!

Then I combine Flogal's power
with Marron and attack Nehalem!

I can't let you do that.

Your attack cannot get through!

In that case, my turn is over.

B-But I did cause 1 damage.

If we continue doing 1 damage to each
other, I'll be the one to win first!

What are you so relieved about?

Did you seriously think I was just
going to let it end this way?

It's about time I ended this lesson.

I call Wyvern Strike Tejas and Jarran!

Picture the attack I'm about to begin...

First I attack Gallatin with Bahr!

I guard with Flogal!

Next, I combine Jarran's power
with Tejas and attack Gallatin!

Two Wyverns?

That's right! And when Jarran supports
Tejas, he gets an additional 4000 power!

Now we both have 2 damage, so it's tied.

But I still have an attack left.

I attack Gallatin with
Nehalem supported by Aermo!

That's 16000 power...

But that's not all.

It's the Embodiment of the Spear, Tahr;
however, what's important is this here!

When this mark appears on the card you draw,

your attack power increases by 5000 and
the damage you can do goes up by 1!

Then, that means...

If this attack hits, you take 2 damage!

Are you okay?

Two cards, just like that...

Four damage before I even knew it.

This is... This is...

You were able to picture it, I see.

Yes, this is Vanguard!

I guess this is over.

Oh, I could totally still make a comeback.

You got that right!

Now, it's your turn.

What's the matter? Have you
lost the will to fight?

Aichi?

You're amazing, just as I figured.

But this is fun, Kai!

How do you know Kai's name?

It was my dream to be able to
fight with you like this, Kai.

Just as I thought.

You are Aichi Sendou.

That's right, Kai.

And this is the power that
you gave me back then.

I see.

Here we go...

Stand up, my avatar!

Ride!

Blaster Blade!

Kai, I knew you'd be amazing.

But, this is fun!

You're Aichi Sendou...

You guys know each other?

The one who gave me this Blaster Blade...

And the one who made me think of
becoming a Vanguard Fighter...

The person who started it all?

Are we finished talking now?

On the next Cardfight!
Vanguard: Ride to Victory!

Now, whenever you're ready, Aichi!

Picture our Vanguard Fight in your mind!