A month had passed since the incident regarding Rex Kido and Operation: Transcendence. As the head of the V Corporation, Rex naturally had a large public relations engine necessary to divert any unwanted attention away from him. Most of the incident was, however, televised, so some people would never truly forget. One of those people was Makoto Sakaki. Even as he took the stage at the National Circuit final, the words of both Rex Kido and his father, Naito Sakaki, hung heavily over his mind.
I was there that night. I watched that man die on his way to the hospital. I saw the smile on his face as his heart stopped beating and I was heartbroken. Utterly heartbroken. Maybe even more so than you. The next day was the day we were supposed to change the world...
If you and your opponent fight with all your strength, your imaginations won't be fighting each other. They'll be working together. More people get enjoyment out of Vanguard when two people sit at a table and create something magical…
His opponent was Reiji Midorihara, who was more than ready to forget the whole fiasco even happened. Reiji had been busy reinventing his image: no longer was he the hooded fighter who cared only about winning. He cleaned himself up, taken on a sort-of punk rock look, and started putting more effort into looking good while fighting. He was trying to transform himself into a more friendly Vanguard fighter.
The two fighters took the stage. Reiji was used to the large crowds of the National Circuit. Makoto, however, was visibly nervous. Only by keeping his eyes on his opponent and not on the crowd could Makoto remain calm in this high intensity environment.
"I've been waiting quite a while for this moment," Reiji told Makoto.
Makoto was silent. How in the world do you manage to stay so calm???
"Shall we begin?" Reiji then asked. I am bound to win this time, Makoto…
"Alright then…"
"Stand Up! (My!) Vanguard!"
High above the two fighters, Rex Kido sat in a booth, watching the fight. Engrossed in what he was watching, and impressed with what he had seen so far, he had not noticed a cloaked figure step into the booth. Security had done nothing about the figure, for some reason.
"Rex Kido, I presume?" the figure asked. Rex turned, expecting to see Destiny standing behind him. However, this person wore a darker colored cloak than Destiny had wore, and had a scruffy, manly voice.
"Welcome, old friend," Rex answered. "Come watch the fight." The man sat down near Rex and started to watch what was happening below.
"So what brings you here?" Rex asked the man.
"It is a bit difficult to not know what you had done," the man answered quickly. Rex bowed his head in shame. Noticing this, the man continued, "Where is your deck?"
"I don't play Vanguard any more," Rex answered him. "I'm only here to fulfill my societal expectations."
"That sounds much like the Rex Kido I remember," the man responded. "Atoning for your sins by removing yourself from the game."
"I have no idea what you are speaking of," Rex continued. "I'm just not interested in playing."
"We'll let the cards decide that," the man answered Rex.
"Just what are you getting at here?" Rex asked him.
"I've been traveling the world for years, Rex," the man replied back. "In my experience, a Vanguard fighter doesn't just quit being a Vanguard fighter. Not even Naito did that."
"Naito died with his deck in his hand," Rex remembered.
"Everything we do, we do it for a reason. What is your reason for quitting?" Rex had no response.
Back on ground level, Reiji and Makoto continued their fight. It was an intense fight already, with Makoto having a very good early game. The damage count was 5 for Reiji and 3 for Makoto.
However, Reiji had only begun to fight. He stood all his units and drew his next card quietly. "This battle will end the way I choose, Makoto. Final Turn!"
"Well then, let's see what you got."
"Gaze into the heart of darkness, and see the pure despair gaze back at you! Demonic Madness Dragon, Kuromi, arise! Imaginary Gift: Protect I! Also, Kuromi's skill: Soul Charge 2, and Kuromi gets Power+2000 for every two cards in the soul."
That's not good, Makoto thought to himself. Kuromi now has 30000 Power. And with Doreen behind it, that just means even more power...
"Call! Dauntless Vampir! Gwynn attacks!"
"Sphere Magus guards!"
"Demonic Madness Dragon, Kuromi attacks Starburst Dragon!"
I've only got the one Perfect Guard... Makoto then thought to himself. The attack is 61000, so I've got no choice but to let it through... Especially since Kuromi can attack twice, the second with even more power... "No guard!"
"Hmm... Checking the Twin Drive! First, a Critical Trigger! Second, a Heal Trigger! Everything to the Vanguard!" The attack was somehow intense enough in Makoto's imagination to somehow affect his balance in the real world. He was nearly swept off his feet by the attack. Two cards flew into his damage zone. Neither of them were triggers. The damage was now 4 for Reiji and 5 for Makoto.
"Unbelievable!" shouted the announcer. "In one fell swoop, Reiji has turned the tide of the battle in his favor! What's Makoto going to do next?!"
"I admire your attempts at surviving so far," Reiji told his opponent. "But it's far too late for you to do anything about it. Kuromi's skill allows it to attack a second time, with even more power from Doreen the Thruster boosting. Eternal Black Fury!!!"
"Perfect Guard! Imaginary Gift: Protect!"
"You've left yourself open for one more attack," Reiji then told Makoto. "Scarlet Vampir! Finish him off!"
Makoto smiled. The tension in the air only made the match more exciting. "Sorry, Reiji," he said to his opponent in response. "But you aren't the only one who's changed since we last fought. I guard that attack!" He threw two critical triggers and Starburst Squire on the board to block the attack. Despite surviving the attack, Makoto only became more nervous. His breathing intensified, and his heartbeat accelerated.
The crowd cheered even more loudly than before.
"Unbelievable! Makoto Sakaki has survived Reiji Midorihara's signature offensive onslaught by the skin of his teeth! But now Reiji is the one with the Protect marker in hand."
"Stand and draw," Makoto said, beginning his turn. "This victory is my destiny, and the destiny of two worlds! Together, a great miracle forms! I ride! Starburst Victory!"
On Cray, Starburst Dragon began to evolve. In this form, it was no longer just a large glowing white dragon. It glowed many colors and its wings and tail became wildly decorated. Reborn as if a phoenix, Starburst Dragon ascended into the skies above the planet's surface to do battle with Kuromi.
"Imaginary Gift: Protect I! Call!" Makoto called out CEO Amaterasu!"
"You've got a new Starburst Dragon..." Reiji responded. "How interesting... Let's see what it can do."
"Skill activated! Counter Blast 2 and Soul Blast 1 Starburst Dragon, I check the top five cards of my deck. I add one to my hand, put one in my soul, and place the rest on the top. Starburst Victory gets 20000 Power and an extra drive check. Let's go, Starburst Victory!"
"I've got a simple answer for that," Reiji told him. "Complete Guard! Imaginary Gift: Protect!"
"Triple Drive Check!" Makoto responded. "First check, Critical Trigger! All effects go to Amaterasu! Second check. Third check, Critical Trigger! All effects go to Amaterasu! Attack!"
Reiji silently admitted defeat. He thought to himself, He truly has gotten the better of me... Six damage.
The crowd roared in excitement! Everyone cheered for both fighters as they began to walk away from the stage.
"In a shocking turn of events, Makoto Sakaki has defeated Reiji Midorihara once again! Makoto Sakaki has won the National Circuit, ending Reiji's five year reign as the National Champion!"
Reiji and Makoto were originally planning on going their separate ways. However, Reiji turned around to actually congratulate his opponent. He was met by Agrise and Asahi, who were watching from the stands.
Reiji sighed. Saying this was going to be difficult. "I must admit. The three of you did very well. We gave the audience what they needed."
"Rather than just what they wanted, right, Reiji?" Asahi asked him.
"Yeah, sure..."
There was nothing but silence for a moment or two. Finally, Asahi spoke again.
"I have something that belongs to you, Reiji..." Asahi then handed Reiji a card. It was a Royal Paladin card, Beacon of Hope, Kuromi. Reiji then began to cry a little. It wasn't like the tears he shed back at the Tournament of Champions. He was crying true tears.
"Asahi..." Reiji tried to say. It was in that moment that Reiji realized that maybe, just maybe, having some good friends wasn't so bad after all. He then turned to Makoto. "I think you've earned the right to hear about the day I met Kuromi. Not today, of course, because I need to be leaving quickly. But someday. Maybe I can come to your card shop and tell you what happened."
"That would be fine," Makoto told Reiji. "Glad to see you finally coming around."
"Don't get too used to it, Makoto..." With that, Reiji left. When he and Makoto would meet again, neither of them knew.
Another week had passed. School was now over for a short while, to give the students a break. Makoto and his friends, Baku and Kotaro, had made it to Card Shop Castle to have a few friendly Cardfights. Baku had been teasing the fact that he had a new deck he wanted to try out, and had challenged Makoto, very publicly, at school to a Cardfight at the shop. They would not be surprised if a crowd would form during the fight.
"I'm telling you, Makoto, my new deck is sure to beat your Starburst Dragon deck!" Baku toyed with his soon-to-be opponent.
"We will just have to see about that..." Makoto told him. "Gotta go where the wind takes us..."
"Honestly, it could go either way," Kotaro tried to get his two cents in. "I've seen the deck. I'm not allowed to say what it is. But Baku has been testing it a lot and it is really good."
The trio entered the store and got ready for the fight.
"We need to get everything set up quickly before the whole school arrives," Makoto told his opponent. "Because you just had to blab on to the whole school..."
"You know you like the free publicity, Makoto," Baku told him. Makoto was not impressed. "Everyone wants to fight the National Champion! You knew this was gonna happen!"
"Fair enough, I suppose," Makoto told him. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Stand Up, Vanguard!" they shouted at the same time.
"Let's go!" Baku added.
Sometime during the fight, Reiji could be seen walking down the street towards Card Shop Castle. He could hear the slowly growing crowd from a distance, and he used that to figure out where he was going.
Guess I don't have to ask anyone where this dingy old shop is...
Meanwhile, back inside the shop, Baku, who had went first, was ready to ride up to grade 3.
"Ride Jutsu!" Baku said confidently. "Evil Stealth Dragon Shogo, Kojirou! Imaginary Gift! It's a Protect II!" Rather puzzlingly, Baku put the Protect marker on his back row.
"So this is your ace, huh, Baku..."
"Yep," Baku answered quickly. "Let's begin the real battle. Evil Stealth Dragon, Toyotomi's skill! Ninja Art - Summoning Jutsu!" Suddenly, an Evil Decoy Token appeared on the circle with the Protect marker. The goal of Baku's new deck was slowly becoming clear. "As well, Kojirou's skill." Two more tokens appeared on the field. "With Kojirou's skill, all my tokens get 5000 Power and they lose their abilities until end of turn."
"Lose their abilities? That means..."
"They can attack, but first, Evil Stealth Dragon, Zangetsu's Counter Blast! Once again, all my tokens gain 5000 Power, and the tokens in the back row gain Boost."
"In no time at all, he's called an entire board..."
"My Evil Decoy Token attacks your vanguard!"
"That's a no guard. Damage check, no trigger."
"Now, my vanguard!"
"I'll guard that attack! Oracle Guardian, Nike! Psychic Bird!"
"Twin Drive! First. Second, Critical Trigger! I give it to Zangetsu! If this attack hits, you'll need a Heal Trigger to keep from losing! Go, Zangetsu!"
"I'll guard that attack as well! Sphere Magus!"
Baku thought for a moment. He went from looking at his board to looking at Makoto's board, then back to looking at his own board. "Looks like you're a little off your game, Makoto. I end my turn."
Makoto laughed it off. "I just need to stop sleeping in. I stand and draw. Spread your wings and take flight, dragon born of starlight! I ride Starburst Dragon!"
"There it is! Makoto's ace!" Kotaro said excitedly.
"Imaginary Gift: Protect I! I call Starburst Squire, CEO Amaterasu, and Battle Sister, Torte! And now, Starburst Dragon attacks your vanguard! Skill activated! Starburst Pulse!" Makoto then conducted the skill in rapid pace, adding four cards to his hand. "With ten cards in hand now, Torte gains 10000 Power and an extra Critical. As well, Amaterasu gains 5000 Power since I've looked at my deck this turn."
"That's pretty good, Makoto, but I've got a quick response for that!" Baku answered. "Perfect Guard!"
"Twin Drive Check!" Makoto responded. "First Check, Critical Trigger! All the effects go to Amaterasu. Second Check, Critical Trigger! All the effects go to Torte."
"Makoto can now deal four damage in two attacks," Kotaro said, essentially commentating the fight between his two friends. "If Makoto can land both attacks, it's all over for Baku!"
"Amaterasu attacks your vanguard!"
"That's a no guard," Baku responded. "Damage trigger check, no trigger. And no trigger that time either."
Five damage... "Torte attacks your vanguard! Right now, her power is 28000 and she has a Critical of 3. Do you respond?"
"Indeed I do, Makoto," Baku answered him. "Guard!" Baku threw down a heal trigger, ending Makoto's turn.
"So close!"
"And now, Makoto, this is the true power of my new Nubatama deck! Ride Jutsu! Evil Stealth Dragon Akatsuki, Hanzo! Imaginary Gift, Protect II!"
"Here we go..."
"Kojirou's skill. Ninja Art - Shadow Phase Jutsu!"
"Shadow Phase Jutsu?!"
"When Kojirou is ridden over, I can force you to discard a card from your hand for each Evil Decoy Token on my field. I've got four Tokens, so you must discard four cards from your ten card hand."
Makoto did as he was forced, not at all pleased with how the fight was going. He was quite scared.
"In addition, Akatsuki Hanzo's skill. I retire two Tokens to send three of your rear-guards to your hand. Then, you must discard three cards from your hand."
In no time, Makoto went from having ten cards in hand to just three: a heal trigger, and two critical triggers. On top of this, he still had two attacks to block, three now that Bake had called out another Zangetsu.
"Akatsuki Hanzo, attack Starburst Dragon!"
"I'm gonna have to guard that one, Baku! Psychic Bird! Oracle Guardian, Nike!" Makoto was getting desperate. A double trigger from Baku would break through his shield.
"Twin Drive!!" Baku responded. "First. Second. Critical Trigger! All the effects go to Zangetsu on the left! Attack!"
"Sphere Magus guards!"
"Zangetsu on the right attacks!" Baku then said. "There's no escape!" Makoto knew there was no escape. But it was still a friendly match, so both fighters congratulated each other on a job well done.
"You got me good, Baku," Makoto said as he smiled at his opponent.
"Guess I did, huh, Makoto?" Baku replied. "Oh! Did you ever consider our offer?"
"What offer?" Makoto asked.
"What offer?" Baku jokingly mocked his friend. "We need to get a team together for this year's Vanguard Koshien. Especially after the humiliation we suffered last year because you said nooooooooooo."
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"We had to get a bunch of noobs just to even have enough people to play," Baku answered him. "We lost in the first round."
"Hmm..." Makoto thought for a while.
"I'd suggest you take his offer," said a voice coming through the shop doors. It was Reiji Midorihara. Baku and Kotaro jumped in front of Makoto to prevent him from doing anything to Makoto.
"If you want to challenge Makoto, you'll have to get past us first!" Kotaro told Reiji.
"We've got brand new decks ready to take you on, Reiji!" Baku added. "We're not scared of you anymore!"
"I'm not here for a fight," Reiji told them, before turning his attention to Makoto. "Perhaps you can mull your friend's offer over story time?" For the first time in a long time, Reiji smiled.
Baku and Kotaro were confused. "Story time?"
"It's a long story..." Reiji told them. "Maybe it will help you come to a decision."