A/N: Hey readers. Here's a new chapter for you all. Enjoy.

Over the years of its existence, Vanguard had grown tremendously in popularity. It had managed to incorporate itself into the daily lives of so many people and integrated with the world in various ways. There were national tournaments that were viewed all across the country. Idol groups were starting to take advantage of the game's popularity and use it for publicity.

And of course, Vanguard had also made its place in the criminal underground as well.

In the basement of a bar in New York City, there was a special underground arena for Vanguard fighters. Wealthy criminals would recommend fighters to play in matches there in hopes for making some extra cash. Other types of lowlives would bet on the matches. As for the fighters themselves, all that mattered was victory.

A rich gang leader walked into the underground arena with two of his lackeys walking at his side. He glanced behind him where a small figure in a cloak was walking. "You better win this, kid. I got a lot of money riding on you."

"Hmph, don't worry about me. You'll get your money's worth." the cloaked figure said.

Down in the center of the arena, two fighters were near the end of their game. One of them was a brawny muscular figure that seemed to have a commanding lead.

"Go Ethics Buster Catastrophe!" the man called out. "Crush this loser!"

"Ahhhhhhhhh!" the other player cried out as he received his sixth damage and lost the game. He collapsed onto the ground.

"And there you have it! Another win for our underground champion The Bulldozer!" the announcer for the arena declared. "Can anyone stop this monster of a cardfighter?!"

"Who dares challenge The Bulldozer?!" the man called out with a smug grin. "I'll take on any challenger!"

The gang leader looked to the cloaked figure at his side. "You're up, kid."

"Just make sure you keep your end of the deal. I'll want my money when I'm done here." the figure said. He leaped off from the railings and landed in the arena.

The Bulldozer looked at the new arrival. "Huh? Who the hell are you?"

"The fighter that's going to put an end to your winning streak." the figure said. He grabbed the cloak he was wearing and tossed it away, revealing his face. Keith Ashton.

The Bulldozer let out a laugh. "A scrawny brat like you thinks he can beat me? Get real!"

"How a muscle brained idiot like you is the top fighter around here is beyond me." Keith said as he placed his deck on the table. "Let's just get this over with."

"You've got quite a mouth on you." The Bulldozer glared as he put his deck down as well. "I'm gonna enjoy destroying you."

"I'd like to see you try." Keith said.

Together, the two began their fight. "Stand up! Vanguard!"

Keith stood in the stadium for the Vanguard Invitational Cup as he thought back on his past. He had made a name for himself as a Vanguard fighter for hire. News of his skills from the underground fights spread and soon his name became infamous all across America's Vanguard community. He was known as the Underground King.

And eventually, that reputation of his got him scouted as a team member for Team Apocalypse in the Vanguard World Tournament.

For as long as he could remember, Vanguard had always been a way for him to make money. It was his livelihood. He didn't care about his clients or their morals. As long as he got paid, everything else was nothing more than an afterthought. But recently, he found himself thinking differently. Now when he fought, he felt a rush of excitement throughout his body. Even if he was in a tight spot during a fight, that rush still made itself present. He couldn't understand it at all.

'I don't give a damn about this game. It's just a way to make money.' Keith told himself. 'Then why… why do I feel this way?'

"And the next pairing has been announced!" Sachi declared, her voice reaching the area Keith was in. "Numbers 8 and 30, come on down! It's time to fight!"

Hearing his number called, Keith shook the thoughts out of his head. 'I can't worry about this right now. I just need to focus on winning here. Then my reputation will go up even higher, leading to better clients.'

In the stands, people were still roaring with excitement for the upcoming match. There weren't many fights left in the first round and people were curious to find out who else had been invited to this unique event.

"Here we go, cardfighting fans! Are you ready?!" Sachi asked. "First up, we have a fighter from America! He was a member of the second place team in the Vanguard World Tournament, but he also has quite the reputation as a Vanguard mercenary! Give it up for Keith Ashton!"

Keith walked out onto the field as the audience cheered. But he couldn't hear any of it. Victory was the one thing on his mind, just as it had always been.

"And now for his opponent!" Sachi called out. "This adorable little girl hasn't had any notable tournament experience, but her sister is a member of Team Sightless Vision from the Vanguard World Tournament! Do Vanguard skills run in the family? Let's find out! Here's the little fighter that could! Kimiko Radcliffe!"

Kimiko came out to the field, waving at everyone with a cheerful smile on her face. Anyone could tell that she was thrilled to be participating in this tournament.

"Woo! Go Kimiko!" Sarah cheered from her seat. "You got this, sis!"

Kimiko and Keith stood across from each other on the field. As they placed their decks down, Sachi started the fight. "Alright folks, here we go! Fighters, you know the words!"

"Stand up! Vanguard!"

"Steam Maiden, Lele!"

Steam Maiden, Lele

Grade 0, Power: 5000

"Lizard Champion, Conroe!"

Lizard Champion, Conroe

Grade 0, Power: 5000

"Kimiko's got her work cut out for her." Marcus said. "Her first fight in a big tournament and it's against one of the top fighters from the World Tournament."

"Even still, she can do this." Sarah said. "Kimiko's been training a lot for this. She'll win."

"Here we go. Draw." Keith said. "I ride Flame of Passion, Aermo!"

Flame of Passion, Aermo

Grade 1, Power: 7000

"Conroe moves back. Turn end."

[Turn 2. Hand: Keith(5), Kimiko(5).]

"My turn then. Stand and draw." Kimiko said. "Ride! Steam Maiden, Crona!"

Steam Maiden, Crona

Grade 1, Power: 7000

"Lele moves back." Kimiko said. "Lending her boost to Crona for an attack at your Vanguard!"

(7000+5000=12000)

"No guard."

"Drive check, no trigger."

"Damage check, no trigger."

[Damage: Keith(1), Kimiko(0).]

"Turn end." Kimiko said.

[Turn 3. Hand: Keith(5), Kimiko(6).]

"Stand and draw." Keith said. "I ride Dragon Knight Captain, Nehalem."

Dragon Knight Captain, Nehalem

Grade 2, Power: 9000

"I also call Gattling Claw Dragon." Keith said. "Gattling claw's skill. Counterblast and send it to the soul. In exchange, retire Lele."

Kimiko gasped as her rear guard was retired right before her eyes. It was going to be harder to get her combos off now.

"Skill of Conroe. Send it to the soul and add Dragonic Overlord The Destiny from the deck to my hand. Next, I reveal an Overlord in my hand." Keith said, showing Dragonic Overlord, The Legend. "Since it's a different Overlord than The Destiny, I counter charge and soul charge. I then call Burning Horn Evolute. And it's attacking your Vanguard!"

(9000)

"Guard!"

"Nehalem attacks next!"

(9000)

"No guard."

"Drive check, no trigger."

"Damage check, no trigger."

[Damage: Keith(1), Kimiko(1).]

"Turn end." Keith said.

[Turn 4. Hand: Keith(6), Kimiko(5).]

"Stand and draw." kimiko said. "Ride! Gear Whip Steam Maiden, Ishin!"

Gear Whip Steam Maiden, Ishin

Grade 2, Power: 9000

'He's bound to go retiring my card en masse next turn. So I'll wait until the right moment to call out my units.' Kimiko thought silently. "Ishin attacks!"

(9000)

"No guard."

"Drive check, critical trigger! All effects to the Vanguard!"

"Tch, damage check." Keith said. "First check, no trigger. Second check, draw trigger. Power to the Vanguard and draw."

[Damage: Keith(3), Kimiko(1).]

"Turn end."

[Turn 5. Hand: Keith(7), Kimiko(6).]

"Stand and draw." Keith said. "I don't care if you are a little kid. Be prepared to burn up in the flames of hell! Ride! Dragonic Overlord, The Destiny!"

Dragonic Overlord, The Destiny

Grade 3, Power: 11000

"Go Overlord! Attack!"

(11000)

"Guard!" Kimiko said, holding up the critical trigger she got last turn.

"Twin drive. First check, no trigger. Second check, heal trigger. Power to Evolute and I recover one." Keith said.

[Damage: Keith(2), Kimiko(1).]

"Go Evolute! Attack!"

(9000+5000=14000)

"No guard. Damage check, no trigger."

[Damage: Keith(2), Kimiko(2).]

"Turn end."

[Turn 6. Hand: Keith(9), Kimiko(5).]

"Stand and draw." Kimiko said. She held out a card from her hand. "Show me the path that is, has, and always will be my own! Ride! Rebirth Steam Maiden, Uluru!"

Rebirth Steam Maiden, Uluru

Grade 3, Power: 11000

"And now, Stride Generation!" Kimiko called out. "Interdimensional Dragon, Lost Era Dragon!"

Interdimensional Dragon, Lost Era Dragon

Grade 4, Power: 15000+

"Here I come! I call Steam Maidens Ophelia and Elsa!" Kimiko declared. "Ophelia's soul blast! Send Burning Horn Evolute to the bottom of the deck! Then, I draw a card and Ophelia gains 5000 power for each grade Evolute had! Evolute was grade 2, so that's 10000 power! On top of that, Elsa's skill gives herself 10000 power when your rear guard is sent to the bottom of the deck! Finally, I activate Lost Era Dragon's skill! Counterblast! I target Ophelia, and she gains a skill! Since your rear guard was sent to the bottom of the deck this turn, she gains 10000 power!"

"Unbelievable! Not only has Kimiko gotten rid of Keith's only rear guard, she's adding power to her units like it's going out of style!" Sachi announced.

"Elsa attacks Overlord!"

(9000+10000=19000)

Keith quickly held up a critical trigger from his hand. "Guard!"

"Lost Era Dragon's up next!"

(26000)

"No guard."

"Triple drive! First check, no trigger. Second check, critical trigger! Critical to the Vanguard and power to Ophelia! Third check, no trigger."

Keith watched as another two cards fell into his damage zone. Neither of them were triggers, but he didn't seem bothered by it.

[Damage: Keith(4), Kimiko(2).]

"Ophelia, get him!"

(9000+10000+10000+5000=34000)

"Generation guard! Flame Wing Steel Beast, Denial Griffin!"

Flame Wing Steel Beast, Denial Griffin

Grade 4, Shield: 15000

"Skill of Denial Griffin! Retire the attacking rear guard!" Keith declared.

"Turn end. With Uluru's skill, since your rear guard was put to the bottom of the deck this turn, I draw."

[Turn 7. Hand: Keith(7), Kimiko(7).]

"Stand and draw." Keith said. He clenched his free hand. 'There's that feeling again. Why? Why am I so excited?'

Kimiko narrowed her eyes when she noticed Keith's odd expression. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Mind your own business!" Keith shouted. 'Just ignore it for now. All that matters is winning. Forget everything else.' He discarded a card from his hand. "Stride Generation! Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord The Purge!"

Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord The Purge

Grade 4, Power: 15000+

"Stride skill! Counterblast! I retire Steam Maiden, Elsa! Then I look at the top 7 cards of my deck! Adding Dragonic Overlord, The Destiny to my hand!" Keith stated. "Activating skill of The Purge! I send Destiny to the soul and deal my opponent one damage!"

"Tch, damage check." Kimiko said. "Alright! It's a heal trigger!"

"Too bad for you. The damage from this effect nullifies trigger effects." Keith explained.

"What?!"

[Damage: Keith(4), Kimiko(3).]

"Calling Glow Heater Dragon, Dragon Knight Captain, Nehalem, and Flame of Passion, Aermo!" Keith declared. "Nehalem attacks with a boost from Aermo!"

(9000+7000+7000=23000)

"No guard. Damage check, no trigger."

[Damage: Keith(4), Kimiko(4).]

"You're about to regret that! Go Overlord!" Keith called out. "And with my Vanguard's Generation Break 3, my drive checks are equal to my opponent's damage! That's four drive checks!"

"Perfect guard!"

"Quadruple drive! First check, no trigger. Second check, critical trigger! All effects to Glow Heater! Third check, critical trigger! Once again, all effects to Glow Heater! Final check, no trigger." Keith said. "Glow Heater, finish her off!"

(9000+8000+10000=27000)

"Generation guard! Retroactive Time Maiden, Uluru!"

Retroactive Time Maiden, Uluru

Grade 4, Shield: 15000

"Skill activated! I put Steam Maiden, Sadum and Steam Maiden, Ophelia from the drop zone and put them on the bottom of the deck! In return, 5000 is added to the shield!"

"Fine then. My turn's over."

[Turn 8. Hand: Keith(8), Kimiko(4).]

"Stand and draw." Kimiko said. "You know, I don't get it. You're not smiling at all."

"Smiling? And why would I be doing something pointless like that?"

"Because we're cardfighting! Isn't Vanguard fun?"

'Fun… Is that what I'm feeling?' Keith asked himself. 'How long has it been… since I played Vanguard for the fun of it?'

Memories flashed back for Keith. Memories from before he became a fighter for hire. From back when he was younger and first entered a card shop. His first game of Vanguard. The excitement - the fun - that he used to have. When had that feeling left him?

"Geez. To think even someone like me could get enticed to have fun cardfighting." Keith said with a small chuckle. "Alright then! I'll show you what I'm like when I'm playing in earnest, kid!"

Kimiko grinned. "Go ahead. But I'm still not gonna lose." she told him. "Generation zone, release! Infinite futures lining up before me! Let the future I envision shine! Stride Generation! Sands of Time, Uluru!"

Sands of Time, Uluru

Grade 4, Power: 15000+

"Stride skill! Giving Uluru a skill! Sending Glow Heater to the bottom of the deck! With the skill gained from the stride skill, add 3000 power to Uluru!" Kimiko declared. "Next I call Steam Maiden, Crona and Steam Maiden, Ophelia! With Ophelia's skill, send Nehalem to the bottom of the deck! That's another 3000 power to Uluru, as well as 3000 to Crona and 10000 to Ophelia! Finally, I call Gear Whip Steam Maiden, Ishin and Steam Maiden, Danish! Danish sends Aermo to the bottom of the deck and lets you call a card one grade lower from the deck!"

"Like I'd bother calling a trigger. I'll leave my field empty." Keith said. "Regardless, you'll need a better formation than that to break through my defense."

"Then how about this! Activating skill of Sands of Time, Uluru! Generation Break 3! Send your Vanguard to the bottom of the deck and ride a unit that's a lower grade from the deck!"

"What?!" Keith exclaimed.

"Unbelievable! Kimiko winds back time even for Keith's Vanguard! Now he's forced to ride a grade 2 or lower unit from his deck!" Sachi declared.

"Riding Glow Heater." Keith said begrudgingly. "With it's skill, I reveal The Legend in my hand to prevent a power loss."

Glow Heater Dragon

Grade 2, Power: 10000

"Uluru attacks with a boost from Crona! With Uluru's skill, you can't guard with sentinels!"

(26000+9000+7000+9000=51000)

'My Vanguard's grade 2, so G Guardians aren't usable either. In that case, there's no choice.' Keith said. He held up multiple cards from his hand. "Two Blue Ray Dracokids! Dragon Dancer, Tara! Embodiment of Spear, Tahr! Lizard General, Conroe! And finally, Doom Bringer High Flame! I guard!"

"Oh my goodness! In a desperate attempt to protect himself, Keith Ashton drops six cards from his hand! But will it be enough?!"

"With all that shield, his Vanguard is at 60000." Amy noted as she watched with Allen. "His opponent needs 2 triggers to break through."

"It's all going to come down to luck." Allen spoke.

"Come on sis… You got this." Sarah prayed.

"Triple drive." Kimiko said. "First check, no trigger. Second check, stand trigger." Kimiko thought to herself. She would need a critical trigger on top of this to finish her opponent off with this attack. But could she chance it like that? She closed her eyes and thought. 'Vanguard's always been there for me when I needed it. Even when I lost my sight, it's what helped me see again. So I'll trust in it for a miracle!' Opening her eyes, Kimiko made her decision. "Power to Uluru!"

"Betting on the critical, eh?" Keith asked. "Let's see if you can pull it off."

"Third check… critical trigger! All effects to the Vanguard!"

Keith widened his eyes as Uluru's attack came flying at him. Despite the fact that he was losing however… he didn't mind it. 'Maybe playing for fun isn't so bad after all.'

"Damage check. First card, no trigger. Second card… no trigger."

[Damage: Keith(6), Kimiko(4).]

"And there you have it! Kimiko Radcliffe wins and makes it to round 2!" Sachi announced. "Give it up for our latest winner!"

Kimiko watched as the crowd cheered for her victory. She grinned and waved to them. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" She saw Keith gather his cards and begin to walk away. "Hey! Mr. Keith! That was a really fun cardfight! Let's fight again sometime!"

Keith cracked a small smile as he heard those words. "Sure. One day, kid."

Aurora: Hey. I had a thought.

Dan: What is it?

Aurora: What if we lived in a world where Vanguard wasn't how we settled our issues?

Anthony: That sound dumb. Then how would things get settled?

Aurora: I don't know? Maybe I'd become a magical girl and go around with a fairy summoning units to fight and fix distortions in time or something.

Anthony: That sounds awfully specific.

Aurora: I'd probably need someone else for the journey too. Someone with poor social skills and would always get into trouble.

Dan: Anthony?

Anthony: Hey!

Aurora: No, not him. Someone with even worse social skills.

Amy: Allen?

Allen: HEY!

Next time: The Idols Rise Again

Card Gallery:

Interdimensional Dragon, Lost Era Dragon
Stride
Power: 15000+
ACT VC 1/Turn: CB1 & Take a face down card from your G Zone and flip it face up. Choose one of your rear guards. Until end of turn, that unit and this unit get (CONT: If your opponent's rear guard was sent back to their deck by the effect of your card this turn, this unit gets +10000 power.).
AUTO VC GB3: When this unit attacks, choose up to two of your opponent's rear guards and your opponent sends them to the bottom of their deck. If two or more cards were sent, this unit gets +1 critical.