Emi, good luck!
Go!
Here I go!
I ride Duo Temptation, Reit!
I haven't seen that card before!
Ooh! That's a triple-rare card from Dazzling Divas!
It's really strong, you know?
It's cute, isn't it?
Ah... that's what you care about?
Um... is it a mistake to choose cards just because they're cute?
No, not at all. The most important thing about Vanguard is to have enjoyable fights.
Besides, if you think the cards are cute,
don't you feel like they'll do a good job for you when you need them?
You said it!
Yep!
Come to think of it, Emi and Mai, what made you first start playing Vanguard?
Emi recommended it to me.
I see.
Then how about you, Emi?
I... Um... Uh...
I was thinking it was because somebody in my family played it, but...
Maybe my mom...?
I think it's slipped my mind!
They're back?
We're home!
How did it go?
I punished him, of course. Quite a bit.
I got donuts!
That's not what I was asking.
Rati fulfilled her duty admirably.
You can set your mind at ease.
Which one should I have first?
Then we've warned Toshiki Kai and all of his comrades.
Gaillard, you know it too, don't you?
Our warnings at this level won't stop them.
Ishida, the boy I fought, received Judgment,
but he's burning with more fighting spirit than ever now.
Neve, you look like you're happy about that.
What are you talking about, girl?
I agree with you, Neve.
Serra...
I warned them twice.
But even though both of them were hit plenty hard,
it didn't seem like their spirits were broken.
That's right. I don't think Misakin gave up, either.
How about you, Gaillard?
I meant to instill terror into him.
But he hasn't given up.
No matter how many times they get up again, with their skill level,
we'll just keep beating them until nothing is left.
See, you are having a good time!
It's because Neve loves fights to the roots of his soul.
Still, Gaillard...
I know.
Now that they're fully aware of our existence, it's actually given them confidence.
They think they're on the right track.
But no matter how confident they are,
it would be impossible for them to set foot in this sanctuary.
I hope you're right...
What does that mean, Serra?
Certainly, there's no way they'll beat us.
However, we're not the only ones who possess important information, are we?
Ren's Promise
Annihilate them, my avatar!
I ride Blaster Dark Revenger Abyss!
Attack!
No guard.
Suddenly 4 damage?!
He got a critical trigger just when he needed it the most!
As always, Ren Suzugamori...
Kai, why did you come back here?
Because you think I know something?
I told you. It's about the Quatre Knights.
The Link Joker invasion.
The advance party fought against the Quatre Knights.
That's right.
And you were also a fighter who fought against Link Joker to the end.
So it wouldn't be a surprise if you knew something.
Scary, scary...
All I did was fight, and you treat me like a criminal?
Kai...
Feign ignorance all you want. You can't fool me!
Here I go, Ren!
Open, haloed gate!
Silver wings, fly down!
Ride the Vanguard!
Seeker, Thing Saver Dragon!
Huh. So this is your Royal Paladin dragon?
Thing Saver Dragon...
This Vanguard ties together the bond between me and Aichi.
Ren, after I win this fight, you are going to talk.
About the Quatre Knights and everything you know about Aichi!
Thing Saver attacks!
Now they've got the same damage!
Every time I see those two fight, it's always won by a hair's breadth.
I feel like I'm gonna forget to breathe!
Kai, are you insinuating that I'm a member of these Quatre Knights?
No, you're not.
But I think you know something about them!
Still, I'm picking up a different atmosphere here
than I did with Gaillard and the rest of the Quatre Knights I've heard about.
Gut instinct, is it?
As always, I can't underestimate you.
But that's exactly why I don't want to lose to you.
Screaming despair in the chaotic silence!
Give me the power of darkness from the shadows
through which not even visions can be seen!
I ride...
...Revenger, Phantom Blaster Abyss!
Phantom Blaster...
Does it bring back memories?
Very painful memories.
Oh, my.
You make it sound as if I've been victimizing you all this time.
True...
Attack!
Perfect guard!
Heal trigger.
Attack!
Guard!
Turn end.
All right! Even though his opponent's trump card came out, he held on to his 4 damage!
Well...
Instead, Ren cut down Kai's rear-guards.
And he healed 1 damage point with a heal trigger.
The situation's gotten even tougher for Kai.
Kai's got the will!
Call!
Ren! No matter how strong my enemies are, I'll never waver!
The light of courage that connects me and my mate in the darkness!
Seek the mate!
Friendship is in this hand! Our bond is in this heart!
Line up, avatar of my soul.
Legion!
Blaster Blade...
I never thought you would be at Kai's fingertips.
You can put up a cool front and have a poker face,
but when Blaster Blade is facing you, your resolve wavers, huh?
Ren, in a way, you know Aichi better than I do.
As an enemy, as a friend, you've fought him countless times.
You must have been Aichi's mate.
Why won't you tell me what you know?
Tell you what?
So you're gonna play innocent to the end...
Then I guess I'll have to pull out the true soul behind that mask!
I call Cerdic with Gildas's skill!
Next, Gildas attacks Blaster Dark!
Then roar, Legion Mate!
Attack Blaster Blade with Thing Saver Dragon!
First check!
I give the effect to Cerdic and heal 1 damage point.
Second check.
I got a critical trigger!
I give the critical to my Vanguard and the power to Cerdic!
Cerdic!
Guard!
Both of 'em are awesome...
Yeah...
I see. This is your Legion?
This is the bond between me and Aichi.
No one can break that bond!
Thing Saver Dragon...
Certainly, it is a powerful unit.
And you're right.
I sensed a strong bond.
Kai, you possess strong conviction.
But, Kai...
I'm actually skeptical about that bond of yours.
What?!
After all, doesn't a bond tie two people together?
Or is it something that can be one-sided?
What are you trying to say?
Kai, are your feelings really honest?
I want to verify them...
...with this attack!
Call!
People who know each other in a world without light,
give me the power to connect souls born into a world of darkness!
Seek the mate!
The power of a bond born in a hateful hell.
Communion of dark knights who wound and stab each other!
Line up, you who would never stand in a line!
Legion!
This is Ren's Legion!
As expected, Legion...
I expected it, but it's true to Ren Suzugamori's character.
Superior call!
Blaster Blade...
Now, when you've chosen Kai, it's time for me to make sure of it.
Well, Kai, shall we begin?
I swear by my bond with Aichi that I won't lose!
Kai, you always make decisions based on your own values.
You've followed your own sense of justice all this time.
You lead a solitary existence that's unswayed by the values of anyone else.
That's Toshiki Kai.
However, to the people around you, that's not necessarily justice.
Sometimes your feelings are so passionate
that they swallow up the people around you and burn them to nothing.
Am I wrong?
No. You're right.
And yet here you are again, trying to start a new battle.
That jerk, Ren!
Kai, what are you agreeing to?!
So blocking those strong feelings is my kind of justice!
Here I go! Attack!
Intercept!
Judge Bau boosts!
Ring out, Legion!
Twin swords of darkness that even cut through bonds!
Attack Thing Saver!
Drive check!
Critical trigger!
I give all of the effects to Phantom Blaster Abyss!
They both have 5 damage!
You don't think it's going to end like this, do you?
I retire three of my rear-guards.
Reign over the battlefield with a sword that's stained with your comrades' blood.
Obey the king of tragedy, dark knight!
Phantom Blaster Rising!
Phantom Blaster Rising?!
He even stood his Legion mate?!
Kai, I'm going to stop you with this attack.
Ring out across the battlefield again, Legion!
Twin swords of darkness that even cut through bonds!
Wait!
Ishida?
Interfering in a fight in progress is a breach of manners.
I know! But there's something I wanna say to you!
True, Kai always acts on his own and maybe as a result, other people are drawn in.
But this time is different!
We're betting everything on Kai's feelings!
You may think it's Kai's fault that we're kickin' up a fuss,
but that's wrong!
We don't wanna forget Aichi Sendou!
Aichi's kindness and strength supported us!
He made me recall somethin' valuable that I'd almost lost!
So I refuse to let Aichi be wiped from my memory!
It was Toshiki Kai's passion that made me remember this precious feelin'!
Kai was resolved to come here alone.
But we stopped him.
We decided on our own to go forward together with Kai.
'Cause we're mates!
Yeah!
Mates... huh?
I guard with Chiron!
Perfect guard!
So you did have one...
Macart attacks!
Guard!
Somehow he blocked Ren's attacks...
Although now Kai doesn't have any cards in his hand.
Don't worry.
Trust me. We're mates, right?
Y-Yeah!
Kai. You...
"Trust me," huh?
Is that strange?
Considerably.
Yeah. Well, we've never had that kind of battle until now.
The most important thing in a fight is your own determination.
You're responsible for your own victory or defeat.
All this time, I believed that was right.
I never gave any thought to the feelings of other people
who got caught up in the outcome of my fights.
But the guy we know...
He always took responsibility for the feelings of other people as he fought his battles!
I'm not going to act alone anymore.
Together with the feelings of these mates,
I wanna go to wherever Aichi is!
Kai!
That guy...
Attack!
Intercept!
Roar, Legion Mates!
Legion attack!
Guard!
Drive check!
I can't be stopped now!
Legion skill activated!
I superior ride Thing Saver Dragon!
Then follow the glow of the bond and gather before me again!
Legion Mate!
Blaster Blade from the Soul...
The bond with my mates can never be severed!
This is Soulmate Legion!
Soulmate Legion...
Here I go, Ren! Legion attack!
No guard.
He did it!
I lost to you, Kai.
Ripping Blaster Blade right from the Soul...
You're as pushy as always.
How can you talk, after making both of yours stand?
Well, certainly...
And I certainly am pushy.
But if I've got mates who are willing to come with me even when I'm like that,
I want to stay as I am and push on.
Kai, you've changed a little.
I think I have.
Aichi and my mates have changed me.
Kai, I have a promise of my own that I need to keep.
So I can't talk to you in detail about him.
However...
...I'll tell you just one thing.
You should try to go there.
What is it?
Where is this?
What will you see there? What will you decide there?
I'm looking forward to that.
A photo!
We've got a clue!
Yeah.
Kamui!
Misaki!
Shin told us you were heading here.
You didn't leave us behind, did you?
No. I wouldn't do that.
Because you're my mates!
Ren, is something wrong?
Kai has changed, huh?
Yes, he has.
It seems... he's my mate!
Ren, you're good at imitating him!
Are you envious, Ren?
As if!
I'm hungry. Get me something to eat, Asaka.
Sure! I'll prepare something right away, Ren.
I'm sure they'll come here.
Don't you think so, Gaillard?
You're really something, Kai.
Was my barging in on you that unpleasant?
That's not what I meant.
Miwa and Ishida, I think his name is?
Having companions isn't like you.
Oh?
You really have changed, too.
For now, I'll say... thank you for the clue.
Next time: The Place Where Aichi Will Return.
The Place Where Aichi Will Return
"Thank you"?
Is it just my imagination, or did you feel annoyed or embarrassed saying that?