Rising Vanguards ch 1

Practicing with Team Dragonheart pt 1

Inside a small card shop named "Rising Dragon Cards and Comics" four cardfighters sat around and waited. The walls were painted particularly with a castle scene of a knight fighting a dragon on the west wall while the east wall showed what appeared to be based more on a Chinese depiction of a dragon flying over a small village.

The four cardfighters, three male and one female, were all typical in their own way. One appeared to be a more aggressive player with overly-spiky short red hair, blue eyes, and a red T-shirt that said "Yamakawa" on the back and nothing else. Across from him was a calmer cardfighter who had well-combed blue-dyed hair, a black shirt that read, "JAM Project". The female cardfighter had shoulder-length brunette hair and wore a short, blue long-sleeved T-shirt with a green skirt. The last person was a rather bulky guy who wore a T-shirt and jeans like the other male members. However, his shirt had no markings aside from a 71 on the right sleeve.

Suddenly, a worker walked over and said, "Are you four waiting for something to do?"

The red-haired member said, "We haven't figured out what our matchups for today will be. Regionals will be right around the corner and we're expecting that one Foo Fighter team to take it all again. If we land on the other side of the bracket this year, we can reach the finals."

The blue-haired member said, "They might not be showing up. FFAL4 got an invite to the Asia Circuit, so Foo Fighter might focus their attention on that rather than attempting to do anything about the regionals here."

The girl said, "If Foo Fighter doesn't send their team this year, we might actually win!"

The redheaded team member said, "All right. Let's get to practicing, then! I'll face Tetsuya! Brick and Natsuko can face each other while we're fighting."

The blue-haired member smiled and said, "Kensuke, I can't believe you're in such a hurry to lose to me."

Kensuke said, "Lose? Facing you again will help me break down defensive players like you!"

Kensuke and Tetsuya each left a card face-down in front of them and shuffled decks. After trading decks, they set the decks down and shouted "STAND UP THE VANGUARD!" as they revealed Spark Kid Dragoon and Stealth Beast, Evil Ferret.

Kensuke said, "I think I'll go first this time."

Tetsuya answered, "You must not want the first attack. Suit yourself."

Kensuke shouted. "DRAW! I ride Red River Dragoon! Spark Kid Dragoon moves to the rear-guard. I also call Malevolent Djinn and end my turn."

Tetsuya asked, "Whatever happened to that Kagero deck you used to play?"

Kensuke answered, "I dunno. One minute, it was a Kagero deck and the next, it was a Narukami deck."

Tetsuya shook his head and said, "I ride Stealth Dragon, Turbulence Edge. Evil Ferret moves to the rearguard. Next, I call another Turbulence Edge, along with Stealth Fae, Dart Spider. My rearguard Turbulence Edge will attack your vanguard with Dart Spider's support!"

Turbulence Edge's power suddenly surged from a weak 6000 to a respectable 10,000 from the support.

Kensuke said, "No Guard" as the attack cut at Red River Dragoon. As Kensuke picked up the top card from his deck and revealed Plasmabite Dragon, Kensuke was relieved to see the lack of a trigger on the Grade 3 card as it moved to the damage zone.

Tetsuya continued, "Now I can use Turbulence Edge's skill. It looks like I found a Mandala Lord here, so the rest of these cards can go on the bottom of my deck. Next, with Evil Ferret's support, my vanguard attacks!"

Kensuke again said, "No guard".

Tetsuya said, "Drive check!" as he revealed Stealth Dragon, Cursed Breath and added it to his hand.

Kensuke then revealed a Photon Bomber Wyvern from the top of his deck and placed it in his damage zone.

Tetsuya said, "Turbulence Edge has the same skill in the vanguard circle, so I can check some more cards. I add another Mandala Lord to my hand. That's it for my turn."

Kensuke said, "STAND AND DRAW! I ride Brightlance Dragoon. I call Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda and Shieldblade Dragoon. I activate Spark Kid Dragoon's skill now. I counterblast 1 and move Spark Kid Dragoon to my soul. Next, I can search the top five cards of my deck. I add Thunder Break Dragon to my hand and shuffle everything else back into my deck. Next, I use Malevolent Djinn's skill, sending it to the soul to give Shieldblade Dragoon an extra little boost. I also call Photon Bomber Wyvern. Brightlance Dragoon attacks your vanguard with support from Photon Bomber Wyvern."

Tetsuya said, "No guard" as Brightlance Dragoon's power surged to 16000.

Kensuke shouted, "Drive check!" as he showed off Rising Phoenix.

Tetsuya then set Silent Stealth Rogue, Shinjimaru to the damage zone.

Kensuke continued, "Shieldblade Dragoon attacks your vanguard!"

Tetsuya said, "No guard" as he allowed a Mandala Lord to hit the damage zone. He added, "That's not one I wanted to see landing there."

Kensuke commanded, "Garuda will deliver another attack on your vanguard!"

Tetsuya said, "That's not an attack I can allow to get through! Silent Stealth Rogue, Shinjimaru will guard!"

Garuda's attack stopped suddenly after breaking through Shinjimaru's shield, leaving only 4000 left for Turbulence Edge's 6000.

Kensuke said, "That ends my turn."

Tetsuya shook his head. He said, "You managed to stop one Mandala Lord use, but can you completely stop me? I ride Stealth Dragon, Cursed Breath. Next, I trigger my Evil Ferret's skill, sending it to the bottom of my deck so I can superior call Mandala Lord from my hand. I also call Million Rat and counterblast one to superior call another from my deck. With Million Rat's support, Cursed Breath attacks your vanguard."

Kensuke said, "No guard"

Tetsuya said, "Drive check" as he revealed Stealth Beast, Leaf Raccoon and added it to his hand. Kensuke's card, however, was the first trigger to be revealed in any trigger check. Yellow Gem Carbuncle fell onto the damage zone.

Kensuke said, "I give the power to my vanguard."

Tetsuya said, "Mandala Lord attacks with support from Million Rat"

Kensuke said, "No guard" as his Stealth Fighter moved to the damage zone.

Tetsuya looked over his surroundings. He realized that he could take down either Garuda or Shieldblade Dragoon, however, he also knew that Tetsuya might twist it to his advantage by calling something more powerful to that spot and unleashing hell. He said, "I'll just end my turn there, returning Mandala Lord to my hand and my superior called Million Rat to the bottom of my deck."

Kensuke said, "STAND AND DRAW! I ride Thunder Break Dragon! I counterblast 2 to retire that dart spider. I also call Rising Phoenix, soulblasting two to get another draw. I call Red River Dragoon. Thunder Break Dragon attacks your vanguard with support from Photon Bomber Wyvern."

Tetsuya said, "That should only be 16000, I can guard against that easily. Oh well, no guard."

Kensuke said, "Oh really. LIMIT BREAK! This gives my Thunder Break Dragon an extra 5000 power when attacking a vanguard. TWIN DRIVE!" He picked up the top two cards of his deck, revealing Malevolent Djinn and Stealth Fighter. He continued, "I give the critical effect to my vanguard and the power to Shieldblade Dragoon."

Tetsuya then saw Stealth Beast, Blood Mist go to the damage zone, followed by Stealth Beast, Cat Rogue, activating the draw trigger.

Tetsuya said, "I give the power to my vanguard."

Kensuke said, "Garuda attacks with support from Red River Dragoon."

Tetsuya said, "No guard!" as he was hoping for a timely heal trigger to preserve his hand size. Unfortunately, his damage card was Stealth Beast, Leaves Mirage.

Kensuke continued, "When Garuda lands a hit on your vanguard, I can flip 1 damage card face-up. Now, with support from Rising Phoenix, Shieldblade Dragoon attacks.

Tetsuya said, "I can't rely on chance alone to save me here. I guard with Stealth Beast, Evil Ferret!"

Shieldblade Dragoon cut through Evil Ferret, only having 9000 left to deal with Cursed Breath's empowered 13000.

Tetsuya smiled, "Your reign of dominance in this cardfight is over. Stand and Draw! I ride Covert Demonic Dragon, Mandala Lord. Next, I demote Turbulence Edge. I call Dueling Dragon Zanbaku, Stealth Beast, White Mane and Stealth Beast, Leaf Raccoon. Zanbaku attacks with support from Million Rat!"

Kensuke shouted, "Shieldblade Dragoon intercepts!"

Zanbaku rushed in for the attack, only for Shieldblade to leap into the way and block with his massive sword. After breaking through, Zanbaku only had 7000 left.

Tetsuya said, "Mandala Lord attacks with support from Leaf Raccoon."

Kensuke said, "I perfect guard with Wyvern Guard, Guld."

Tetsuya said, "Twin Drive!" He revealed Stealth Beast, White Mane and Stealth Beast, Leaves Mirage. "Fine then, Blood Mist will attack without support!"

Kensuke said, "No guard" allowing Dragonic Deathscythe to fall to the damage zone.

Tetsuya said, "Turn end. Go ahead and say it. I only have three cards left, and one is a perfect defense card."

Kensuke shouted, "STAND AND DRAW! I call Plasmabite Dragon. Now, with support from Photon Bomber Wyvern, Thunder Break Dragon attacks your vanguard. LIMIT BREAK! SUPPORT SKILL!"

Tetsuya shouted, "PERFECT GUARD! Stealth Beast, Leaves Mirage!"

Kensuke said, "TWIN DRIVE" as he revealed Photon Bomber Wyvern, then Old Dragon Mage, thus activating Old Dragon Mage's draw trigger. He continued, "I give the power to Plasmabite Dragon! Now, with support from Rising Phoenix, Plasmabite Dragon attacks!"

Tetsuya shouted, "I use Mandala Lord's skill. I counterblast 1 and discard Mandala Lord from my hand to take 10000 off your attack. I also intercept with Blood Mist."

Plasmabite Dragon's power suddenly dropped from 23000 to 8000, not enough to hit Mandala Lord. However, Garuda hadn't attacked at this point and Tetsuya had no means of defense.

Kensuke declared, "FINAL ATTACK! With support from Red River Dragoon, Garuda attacks!"

Garuda took in a power boost from Red River Dragoon, jumping to a power of 17000 against Mandala Lord's 11000. At that moment, a burst of lightning escaped from Garuda's claws. Kensuke flipped Stealth Beast, Moon Edge onto the damage zone. Though it was a trigger unit, the type of trigger couldn't stop this defeat. Mandala Lord appeared vanishing amongst the battlefield.

Tetsuya shouted, "How did I lose to an overly-aggressive moron like Kensuke?"

Kensuke shouted, "HAHA! How are you guys doing?"

Natsuko said, "We haven't even started our cardfight yet."

Brick said, "Let's get started, then."