The national tournament preliminary rounds begin! Team Q4 discovers that they are in the same block as Team Asteroid. Aichi discovers that Kai knows one of Asteroid's members, and is acquainted with Suzugamori Ren. The first round begins and pits them against Team Jurassic Army, a group of militaristic cardfighters using the brutal Tachikaze clan.

Gunji brutally corners Aichi with the speed and power of his Tachikaze deck, bringing the score to 5-3 in Gunji's favor. To make a reversal, Aichi rides his new ace card, Soul Saver Dragon. Managing to get a Critical trigger, it looks like the match has been decided, but luck favors Gunji, who gets a last-minute Heal trigger and survives, winning on the next turn.

Team Q4's second match against Team Muscle Brain begins. Team Muscle brain practices brutal fighting prowess. However, when Kai steps up to the first match, he is able to annihilate his opponent easily by Superior Riding Blazing Flare Dragon. Misaki takes the second match, using a new line of cards located in the deck that was given to her by her parents before their death.

Team Q4's final fight in the preliminary rounds, begins. Kai takes the stage first, against Asteroid member Yahagi "Crusher" Kyou. Kyou uses a Spike Brothers deck potently. Kai rides Dragonic Overlord and activates its skill, but Kyou blocks it, pushing Kai on the defensive. However, Kai recovers his momentum with a heal trigger, allowing him to reclaim three unflipped damage.

Though Kai won the first match of the team battle, Misaki is challenged by Asaka Narumi, known as the "Assassin". Asaka uses a Pale Moon deck skillfully, and though Misaki tries to fight by reading her opponent's moves, Asaka plans further ahead and cripples Misaki's strategy while preparing her field.

The match between Aichi and Tetsu continues. Confronted by Nagisa, Gouki and Emi, who learned of the situation via Team Caesar, Kamui is motivated to support Aichi. Aichi begins to make a comeback by shutting down his opponent's offense and evening out the damage with a heal trigger, but Tetsu rides Demon World Marquis Amon, and with a critical trigger, pushes Aichi down to five damage.

Team Q4 gathers at Card Capital to watch the national tournament finals. Due to various delays, they only manage to catch the very last match, where Ren, leader of Team Asteroid, faces of against Koutei, leader of team Caesar. Even though Koutei appears to put up a good fight, Aichi sees right through Ren's power.

Q4 has gone to the beach in order to train at Vanguard - though a lot of its supporters, such as Morikawa, seem to have other priorities. The team meets up with Team Caesar and quickly engage in cardfights. Surprising everyone, Kai actually defeats Koutei, and the two engage in an elaborate discussion about strategies and tactics. In the meantime, Aichi loses to Yuri five times in a row.

Kai and Koutei have woken up before everyone else and are already engaged in cardfighting. They have leftover curry for breakfast, while Aichi reports the unfortunate results of his deck editing session. They go to the beach, where Aichi, Morikawa and Izaki are put under a special training regime by Kamui, which culminates in them Imaging themselves as valiant Vanguards on Cray.

Kai has begun fighting in underground fights in order to find stronger opponents. Underground card fights usually result in the loss of cards, and players do not abide by the rules that ensure fair play in a cardfight. When Miwa discovers that Kai is searching for Jun, the King of Underground Fights, he goes looking for him. Jun and Kai then have a cardfight with Miwa and Kai's freedom at stake.

A tournament is being held again at Card Capital, but is now a team fight due to the large number of participants. Team Q4 fights and moves all the way up to the final round, with Kai not participating in the team fight. Q4 discovers their opponent to be Team Degozaru which consists of Miwa, Isaki, and Morikawa. Morikawa has come dressed up as Ninja Master M.

The fight between Miwa and Aichi begins. Miwa forces Aichi into a corner by using powerful retiring strategies, and even though Aichi manages a powerful attack using two Pongal and Young Pegasus Knight, and then Solitary Knight Gancelot as well as Soul Saver Dragon, Miwa blocks his efforts, and calls Dragonic Overlord, activating its Eternal Flame.

The regionals commence once again, with Team Q4 and Team Handsome competing. Battles rage as Team Handsome advances to the next round. Team Q4's first opponent, though, is a dangerous team whose members claim to be able to sense their opponent's feelings by their smell. Aichi displays extraordinary positiveness by claiming the first spot for Q4, and proceeds to the fighting arena.