Seeing the three-headed mechanical dragon gather brilliant white energy and charge at his HERO, Aster Phoenix didn't show a shred of nervousness. Instead, he revealed a monster card from his hand.
"I activate the monster effect of Destiny HERO - Dynatag from my hand. During damage calculation, when a battle is occurring: I discard this card to make the battle damage I take from that battle become 0! Then, both players take 1000 damage!"
Boom!
"Ah!"
A HERO wrapped in explosives, grinning brightly, appeared and lit its own fuse with a laugh. With a loud bang, it blasted the massive dragon away, shielding its comrade.
[Aster Phoenix, LP: 4000 → 3000]
[Zane Truesdale, LP: 2400 → 1400]
"But the monster—"
"D-Fusion! Monsters Fusion Summoned using it can't be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn!"
Facing Zane's onslaught, Aster didn't retreat an inch.
"That was an excellent defense," Zane turned back and laughed.
Then he looked at his hand.
Effect damage... indestructibility in battle... this HERO felt like a totally different style from the Elemental HERO archetype.
'The D of Destiny…'
"Quick-Play Spell: De-Fusion. Return Cyber End Dragon to the Extra Deck." Zane calmly invoked the philosophy of "great cards come with risks, and those risks must be mitigated." After his Cybernetic Revolution and Limiter Removal show, he pulled a classic evasive maneuver.
"Then, the effect of Cyber Dragon Core in the Graveyard: If my opponent controls a monster and I control none, I banish this card to Special Summon 1 'Cyber Dragon' from the Deck!"
[Cyber Dragon] Level 5│LIGHT│Machine│2100 ATK
"Next, Spell Card: Polymerization!
"I fuse Cyber Dragon on the field with two Cyber Dragons from my hand! Return once more—Cyber End Dragon!"
Yet again—Cyber End Dragon!
No matter the opponent, Kaiser always showed off his favorite card—Cyber End Dragon!
"Oh? You still had Polymerization and two Cyber Dragons in hand?" This time, Aster showed a flicker of emotion. "Then why didn't you fuse earlier? You could have summoned Cyber Twin Dragon with 2800 ATK, right?"
"Even if I had fused then and summoned Cyber Twin Dragon, during the Battle Phase, you could've just switched Dystopia to Defense Position. Cyber Twin doesn't have Cyber End's piercing. At that point, Limiter Removal would've backfired hard." Zane smiled. "Cyber style is about winning in one strike. Laying the path for that strike is its essence."
"Incredible, Senpai. Even now, you remain so composed." Aster couldn't help but add a few more words.
Seeing this, Hikaru watching the duel relaxed a little.
In the original, Zane's duel with Aster in the pro league showed Aster being unusually rash—impulsive, even activating Power Bond without preparation. Something he'd never have done before!
It was that impatience that led to his downfall, courtesy of Aster's trap.
But the Zane of this world clearly wasn't shaken by the pro league.
"I Set 1 card and end my turn."
Zane set a card.
"Next turn, the Spell Card sent to the Graveyard by Diamond Dude's effect will activate," Bastion said with a frown.
"D - Soul Burst—it halves the ATK of a Destiny HERO you control, then deals that amount as effect damage to both players," Hikaru said.
"What!?" Syrus screamed. "Dystopia has 2800 Attack—half is 1400, right!?"
"I remember Zane has a trap that negates Spells—"
"That won't work," Hikaru shook his head at Alexis's comment. "This isn't the effect of a Spell Card, but of Diamond Dude.
"The ruling treats the Spell effect as being activated by Diamond Dude.
"For example, if he revealed Bonding - H2O, he could Special Summon Water Dragon even without Oxygenon and Hydrogenon on the field. Even Soul Exchange could let him enter the Battle Phase and tribute his opponent's monster.
"You get the benefits of the Spell, not the restrictions."
"That's... the rules of the Duel."
Even among cards with convoluted PSCT (Problem-Solving Card Text), Diamond Dude was a top-tier exception handler. It could bypass self-restrictions like Red-Eyes Fusion. In a way, it was borderline broken.
If Hikaru had drawn like Aster, he'd have run Diamond Dude, too.
So then... powerful cards come with risks?
Wrong!
Powerful cards IGNORE the risks!
Yet, in truth…
Hikaru sighed internally.
This duel was already over.
Thanks to Hikaru's explanation, Aster had already activated D - Soul Burst, halving Dystopia's ATK and inflicting damage.
That damage was exactly Zane's remaining LP!
"This is bad! If this goes through, Zane's LP will hit zero!"
"What now, Zane!?"
Meanwhile, Aster declared, "What do you think, Senpai? This is the decree of Destiny. At this moment, your Life Points will become zero!"
"I activate a Trap Card!" Zane ignored the speech entirely.
"It won't help. Diamond Dude's effect-activated Spell can't be negated!"
"I'm not negating—I'm converting!" Zane flipped his Set card. "Trap Card: Damage Translation!
"This turn, all effect damage I take is halved!"
As Zane's Trap Card activated, Dystopia's spirit rose from his body and exploded like a bomb, damaging both sides.
Boom—
[Zane Truesdale, LP: 1400 → 700]
[Aster Phoenix, LP: 3000 → 1600]
"Well? I overcame your so-called... Destiny."
Aster stared blankly for a moment, then smiled softly. "Amazing, Senpai."
He felt his heart beating faster than usual.
"Now you understand, right? Destiny is... nothing but mist," Zane clenched his fist. "What we should do is carve the future with our cards!"
"Carve the future with our cards? Didn't expect you to be so passionate, Senpai."
"Heh heh... the old me never was." Zane sighed. "Over the past year, I experienced things I never had before. I met some fascinating juniors—no, fellow travelers.
"I think you'll get to know them too."
He was still uncertain about many things. Still unsure of what he truly wanted. However, after a year with Hikaru, he realized that staying true to yourself isn't a mistake. Because some people are even more determined, walking harder paths than his own.
"That absolute Fusionist won't let you down." Kaiser was still proudly recommending his most trusted junior.
"I see… in that case, after defeating you and Jaden Yuki, I'll challenge Senpai Hikaru," Aster said, his tone cool but slightly more energized.
He had no liking for Jaden. But Hikaru's duels had piqued his curiosity.
"Defeat me?" Zane looked dumbfounded.
His LP was nearly gone. Dystopia, weakened by D - Soul Burst, now had only 1400 ATK.
How was that going to beat a 4000-ATK Cyber End Dragon?
"Perhaps... I've been seeking the answer all along."
As he spoke, Aster pointed at Cyber End Dragon. "Senpai, you may have overcome Destiny—But if Destiny fails, then I'll rely on Skill!"
Zane found the statement baffling.
What he didn't realize was that for Aster to say, "If Destiny fails, I'll rely on Skill," was already the highest recognition he could give.
Only because Aster Phoenix was someone who believed in Destiny more than anyone.
"Dystopia's monster effect activates! If this card's ATK is different from its original value: Target 1 card on the field, destroy it. Then, this card's ATK becomes its original value! This effect—can be activated even during the opponent's turn!"
Zane's eyes widened.
He had no hand, no backrow. All he had was a 4000-ATK Cyber End Dragon!
"Go, Dystopia!"
"Noble Justice!"
Obeying Aster's command, Dystopia dashed toward Cyber End Dragon, extended his palm into a black hole,
And absorbed the giant machine dragon, crushing it into fragments!
"Now, direct attack!"
"Dystopian Knuckle!"
Dystopia leapt up and landed a heavy punch on Zane.
[Zane Truesdale, LP: 700 → 0]
Zane collapsed to one knee as the entire arena erupted in cheers. Meanwhile, Duel Academy fell into deathly silence.
Aster exhaled deeply.
He had still won.
However—
This duel hadn't left him disappointed as expected.
On the contrary, he felt an indescribable thrill.
No taunts. No coercive tricks. No targeted maneuvers.
Just pure cards and strategy—
In the pro circuit, this was practically unheard of.
He'd thought Zane would be overconfident, having risen so fast. But Zane had stayed utterly calm.
Or rather... passionate?
Entrusting his fate, his life, his future to his cards—Aster hadn't felt this kind of joy from dueling in a long time.
Regretfully, he could tell Zane still held back. Regardless, even that much made Aster feel happy. After all... it had been a long time since he had smiled sincerely, even a little.
Apparently, this shift in Zane's mindset was thanks to Amaki Hikaru?
He had to admit:
Before, he avoided Duel Academy to steer clear of Leo Akaba's people. To avoid awkwardness.
But now, after dueling Zane, he was actually looking forward to going there!