NOVEL WEB Chapter 208: 208
"Destiny HERO? What kind of card is that!"
Many people were so startled by Aster's use of a card they had never heard of that they leaned back in shock.
Jaden jumped to his feet with a "whoosh".
And all around the world, people were simultaneously shouting things like "Wow!", "No way!", and "What the Fuck!"
The reason was simple and down-to-earth!
Because HERO decks were among the most accessible decks in the world!
Almost everyone had encountered a HERO deck in some way, and many had even used one!
HERO decks were among the cheapest in the world, and their theme and characteristics had always been popular with the masses.
Years ago, a professional Duelist using a HERO deck even rose to the point of challenging Seto Kaiba himself!
And because of that familiarity, this sudden emergence of something called a "Destiny HERO" left everyone confused.
Aren't HERO decks supposed to be... Elemental HERO?
Aster had no intention of airing his personal family issues in front of so many people.
The reason he chose to reveal his true deck at this moment was twofold: One, because after the S-Dimension Friendship Cup, public interest in professional dueling had waned, and as a Duelist affiliated with the Society of Light, showcasing something more exciting and explosive was the best way to recapture attention.
The other was Jaden's performance during the Friendship Cup, which had stirred something inside him.
The desire to settle things once and for all with Jaden Yuki.
On Aster's field stood a dark warrior clad in black armor with drills all over his body—a menacing figure that radiated pressure just by standing there. Even Zane felt a mysterious, suffocating force.
'What is this... such terrifying pressure!'
He swallowed hard as cold sweat ran down his forehead.
[Destiny HERO - Drilldark] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1600 ATK
"Drilldark's monster effect activates. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: I Special Summon 1 Destiny HERO monster from my hand with ATK less than or equal to this card's."
"Come on out! Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude!"
This time, it was a warrior with diamond-covered eyes and a tattered cloak.
[Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1400 ATK
"Diamond Dude's monster effect activates! Once per turn, during your Main Phase: I Excavate the top card of my Deck. If it's a Normal Spell Card, I send it to the Graveyard. During my next turn, I can activate its effect. If not, I'll place it at the bottom of my Deck."
"So, this effect depends on luck?"
"No, it's not luck—it's destiny!
"Diamond Dude's effect: Excavate the top card of the Deck!
"Come on, reveal the card of destiny!"
The camera zoomed in tight—The top card of Aster's Deck was flipped for all to see, revealing its true identity.
"Normal Spell Card: D - Soul Burst!"
"According to Diamond Dude's effect, that card is sent to the Graveyard."
Aster sent the Spell Card to the Graveyard.
Hikaru watched him send the card and couldn't help smacking his lips.
In canon, the one thing Hikaru had always envied most about Aster was that this guy always hits a usable Spell Card with Diamond Dude's effect.
If he could draw like that before crossing worlds, he'd have been running Diamond Dude, too!
Because—
Diamond Dude's effect might seem ordinary at first glance, but in truth, it was terrifyingly powerful.
"Next, Diamond Dude attacks Cyber Dragon Core—"
"Too naive!" Seeing Aster Phoenix attacking Cyber Dragon Core head-on, Zane reacted immediately, flipping a face-down card. "Trap Card, Cybernetic Revolution!"
"This card lets me send a Cyber Dragon I control to the Graveyard, then Special Summon 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck that lists Cyber Dragon as material!
"Come forth! Cyber End Dragon!"
On Zane's field, the small red prototype was instantly overhauled into a massive, three-headed mechanical dragon!
[Cyber End Dragon] Level 10│LIGHT│Machine│4000 ATK
Seeing Cyber Dragon evolve into such a colossal form, Aster showed no surprise.
Instead, he calmly said, "Senpai, in that moment... your fate was already sealed."
"?" Zane frowned.
'…What is with this kid and his cryptic nonsense?'
"I set one card and end my turn."
Many students watching the live stream sighed in relief.
As their idol, the symbol of Duel Academy, the "Uncrowned Kaiser," they really wanted Zane Truesdale to have the upper hand in this Duel.
However, since his opponent was using cards no one had ever heard of, they couldn't help but worry.
"My turn. Draw!"
Zane drew his card and glanced at it. Promptly, he pointed at his opponent. "Battle!
"Cyber End Dragon—Attack!"
"I've heard of that card, Cybernetic Revolution. Isn't the monster summoned by it unable to attack directly and gets destroyed at the end of the turn?" Aster said casually. "In that case, if I survive this turn, your monster will self-destruct.
"I activate my Set card—D-Fusion!"
Before Cyber End Dragon's attack could land, Aster flipped his card. "This card lets me Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, using monsters on the field as Fusion Materials."
"Fusion?!" Zane was startled.
As a member of the Fusion Club, he knew just how powerful Fusion Summoning could be!
"Fusion materials: two Destiny HERO monsters! I fuse Drilldark and Diamond Dude!
"Drill through the darkness and call forth the diamond of destiny!
"Now become one and rule the dark future!
"Fusion Summon!
"Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
With Aster's command, the two monsters on his field merged into a sleek, high-tech HERO. He wore golden pauldrons, a golden mask, and atop his mask was a large "D" emblem.
As he moved his arms, two orbs of dark energy floated from his palms, as if he wielded strange superpowers.
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia] Level 8│DARK│Warrior│2800 ATK
'A new HERO?' Zane stared at the monster before him, momentarily confused.
Though it had become a new monster, its Attack was still only 2800—It couldn't match Cyber End Dragon.
He found himself missing the old days at school.
If Hikaru were here, he'd definitely explain just how powerful this Fusion card really was.
"Dystopia's monster effect activates. When this card is Special Summoned: inflict damage to my opponent equal to the ATK of 1 Level 4 or lower Destiny HERO in my Graveyard. I choose Drilldark!"
Drilldark's ATK was 1600!
That means 1600 damage!
"Dystopian Strike!"
Dystopia raised his right arm, and the energy port on his hand opened up, releasing a fierce surge of dark power, which burst forth and slammed into Zane.
[Zane Truesdale, LP: 4000 → 2400]
At the same time, students inside Duel Academy, seeing Kaiser take damage without even attacking, felt another wave of anxiety. Jaden voiced what everyone was wondering.
"Even if he summoned a monster with 2800 ATK, it's useless, right? I mean, that monster can still be destroyed by Cyber End Dragon. Hikaru, do you know what's going on?"
"...D-Fusion's effect is that the monster Fusion Summoned with it can't be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn."
"Ah, so if Zane's Cyber End Dragon gets destroyed, his field will be wide open!?"
But come on, this is Kaiser. No way he didn't think of that.
"Powerful cards always come with risks. That's why I already made my preparations—Battle continues! I attack Destiny HERO - Dystopia with Cyber End Dragon!
"Then... Quick-Play Spell, Limiter Removal!"
Since the monster summoned with Cybernetic Revolution will be destroyed at the end of the next turn, might as well double its Attack with Limiter Removal!
It's going to be destroyed anyway! And Limiter Removal destroys the monster at End Phase too, so it doesn't matter!
[Cyber End Dragon, ATK: 4000 → 8000]
"Nice! If the attack goes through, Zane wins!" Atticus was as tense as if he were the one dueling as he cheered the moment Zane executed that tactic.
Unfortunately... Aster didn't look worried at all.