Aster vs Zane 2/2 - 9

***

Drawing his new cards, Aster's smirk deepened with confidence. "I activate Destiny Draw! This lets me draw two new cards as long as I discard a destiny hero monster from my hand!" He discarded Destiny Hero - Malicious.

"Next, I banish Destiny Hero - Malicious from my graveyard that I just discarded in order to activate its special ability I can special summon another Malicious from my deck!" A dark, imposing figure appeared on the field, ready for action.

"I then activate Polymerization again, fusing Destiny Hero - Malicious from my field and from my hand to fusion summon Destiny Hero - Dystopia!" Aster's fusion monster materialized with 2800 attack points.

Zane's confidence wavered for a moment as he saw the new threat. "That won't be enough, Aster," he said, trying to sound steady.

"Let's find out," Aster replied. "Destiny Hero - Dystopia's effect activates! Once per turn, when special summoned, I can target one level 4 or lower Destiny Hero in my graveyard and inflict damage to you equal to its attack points. I choose Destiny Hero - Celestial."

"And Destiny Hero - Celestial has 1600 attack points, so you take 1600 damage!"

Zane's Life Points dropped by 1600 as he braced himself. (Zane: 400 LP)

"Next, I play Fusion Destiny!"

Zane's eyes widened as he heard that.

"Fusion Destiny allows me to fuse materials from my deck or hand to summon a Destiny Hero monster. I fuse Destiny Hero - Dasher and Denier from my deck to summon Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"

A vortex of swirling flames erupted on the field, engulfing Dasher and Denier. The flames intensified, coalescing into a fiery phoenix man. As the blaze settled, a magnificent, armor-clad warrior emerged, wings ablaze with fire.

Zane looked at this monster in shock as he was getting a glimpse of flashbacks when he was up against this monster.

"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect activates! For each hero monster that is in my graveyard all of your monsters lose 200 attacks each and I count 10!

Cyber Dragon: 6000 ATK

Cyber Dragon Core: 0 ATK.

Elemental Hero Shining Phoenix Enforcer 5500 ATK.

Destiny Hero Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer 2500 ATK

Destiny Hero - Dystopia 2800 ATK

"Now Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! Destroy yourself to destroy Cyber End Dragon!" Aster commanded, "Suicuide bombing Attack!"

The Phoenix Man jumped up and flew towards the Cyber End Dragon while itself was gleaming before exploding.

A/N: Ok not gonna lie, I was high when I wrote that part.

"That's a self-sacrificing hero if I ever saw one," Zane remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as he made his move. "I activate my trap card, Armory Call!"

"And I'll use it to arm your Destiny Hero Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer before it destroys my monsters!"

"What?!" Aster's voice betrayed his shock.

"I play Axe of Fools!" Zane played the equip spell and Cyber End Dragon on the field stayed unharmed on the field, while Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer found itself with a powerful axe and stopped destroying itself, before going back to Aster's side.

The Axe equipment that was being wielded by Destiny Hero Shining Phoenix Enforcer has increased its attack to 3800.

But

"By equipping the Axe, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effects are negated," Zane explained his strategy. "This also means Cyber End Dragon's attack returns to 8000, and Cyber Dragon Core to 400."

"..." Aster's brow furrowed in thought, his mind racing to decipher Zane's strategy. 'He wants me to attack his Cyber Dragon Core, triggering his trap,' he realized.

He surveyed the field, glancing at Zane's defenses. Confidence surged within him. 'No matter. I can win this,' he thought. 'I just have to go all out.'

With resolve in his eyes, Aster made his decision. "Destiny Hero Shining Phoenix Enforcer! Attack Cyber Dragon Core!" he commanded.

"I reveal my face down card! Mirror force! Now all your monsters are destroyed!" Zane countered.

Aster closes his eyes and reopens them as his monsters are all being destroyed. But a moment later two of the three monsters returned.

Aster looked directly at Zane and declared, "I reveal my face-down card, Destiny Mirage!"

Zane's eyes widened in shock. 'Only one of the monsters was destroyed?!' he thought, clenching his fists in frustration.

"This trap card allows me to bring back all Destiny Hero monsters that were just destroyed!" Aster explained with a smirk. Instantly, his two powerful fusion monsters reappeared on the field.

Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, 2500 ATK

Destiny Hero - Dystopia, 2800 ATK

Zane steadied himself, thinking, 'He's tough, but not unbeatable.' He watched as his Cyber End Dragon's attack points dropped to 5800.

"Now, let's continue where we left off. Dystopia, annihilate Cyber Dragon Core!" Aster commanded, grinning as his hero monster charged at Cyber Dragon Core.

But Zane wasn't that defenseless. "Reveal face-down card!" he shouted.

"Cybernetic Hidden Technology!" he announced. "This trap card allows me to send Cyber Dragon Core to the graveyard and destroy your attacking monster, Destiny Hero - Dystopia." Zane glanced at Aster's monster disappearing before taking a look at his last remaining face-down card.

Cyber End Dragon's ATK points drop to 5600 ATK points.

Both duelists were down to their last card. Aster held a single card in his hand, and Zane had a face down on his field.

The duel had reached its final moments.

Destiny Hero Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer: 2500 ATK

Cyber End Dragon: 5600 ATK

Aster eyed Zane's field with mild appreciation. Zane was holding up surprisingly well, and now everything hinged on this turn. Even Aster could lose if he didn't secure victory now.

"It all comes down to destiny, and it is my destiny to win this duel," Aster murmured, as if the outcome was already decided. He glanced at his remaining card and then back at Zane's field.

"NOW, DESTINY HERO PHOENIX DESTROYER ENFORCER, ATTACK HIS CYBER END DRAGON!" Aster commanded fiercely, pointing at Zane's ace monster.

The crowd gasped. "What?!"

Contrary to the crowd's shock, Zane felt a surge of foreboding and instinctively revealed his final face-down card.

"I reveal my final face-down card!" Zane declared, his voice firm. "Cyberload Fusion!"

As he spoke, energy crackled around him. "I'm going to fusion summon Cyber Eternity Dragon! By shuffling my Cyber End Dragon from my field and two of my Cyber Dragons in my graveyard!"

In a burst of mechanical brilliance, a majestic white-gray metallic dragon emerged. Its scales glinted gold as it let out a deafening, mechanical roar that echoed through the stadium, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.

Cyber Eternity Dragon: 4000 Defense Points.

Zane glanced at the final card in Aster's hand. He suspected it had something to do with his monster being destroyed in battle. Playing it safe, he activated his final card, summoning a powerful monster in defense mode to prevent Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer from destroying itself in battle. Even if his opponent attacked, his Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer would remain on the field, hopefully preventing the card activation effect in Aster's hand.

Zane's thought process wasn't wrong. But unfortunately for him Aster's cards are just built different.

"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, continue attacking!" Aster commanded.

"What?!" Zane was shocked. 'Just what does he have?!'

Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer leaped into action, charging at Zane's monster. Cyber Eternity Dragon swung its tail, knocking Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer back into Aster's lane. The counterattack started to drop Aster's Life Points. Zane was helpless to stop his monster from attacking now but before Zane could fully grasp the situation.

Aster slid his final card into the graveyard, stopping the drop in his life points. As he did, a light emerged from his duel disk, summoning a monster that conjured two fireballs aimed at both Zane and Aster. Zane shielded himself as the attack landed.

"No—No way!" Zane couldn't believe it.

Aster explained. "The card I played was 'Destiny Hero - Dynatag'. During damage calculation, I can send this card to the graveyard and I take no battle damage from that battle. Instead, both of us take 1000 damage to our life points."

Zane's life points dropped to zero. Aster's life points went from 3600 to 2600.

"D— DUEL END!!" The announcers uttered in awe. "Aster won! Zane lost!"

Aster Phoenix began to walk away. Zane was not surprised to lose but it still felt like shit.

"Damn it. I messed up!" Zane slumped down to one knee, his mind swirling with thoughts of where he had gone wrong and how he could possibly fix it. This was a mindset he had still adopted after Gojo had helped him out when he was still in academy island.

Aster paused and turned back, casting a discerning gaze at Zane. "No, your fate was sealed before the match even began," he stated firmly, crossing his arms.

Suddenly, a memory flashed in Zane's mind: a crime scene, a fallen opponent, and a mysterious figure in a superhero costume.

Zane's eyes widened. "You... that line just now. You're the one everyone's been talking about," he stammered, realization dawned on him.

Ignoring Zane's astonishment, Aster simply turned and continued on his way, leaving Zane to ponder his words as he headed towards the press conference.

Zane didn't take this loss seriously, even though it may have made an impact in his career. He was looking back during his time in the academy, taking Ls from Gojo felt a lot worse than this. 'Damn it, Gojo.' he thought, forcing himself to stand and had a smile on his face as he walked away.

'I have got to tell him this.' Zane thought to himself.

***

"Don't you guys think that these Hero decks are a bit of bull shit?" Chazz was the first to speak, his tone tinged with frustration. To be honest he didn't like what he saw. "To think he was just another Hero deck user," he muttered under his breath. "Just great."

We all knew exactly what he meant. The Hero decks that Aster used had an overwhelming number of abilities and incredible versatility.

"You know, I didn't expect him to pull out Destiny Hero cards. Zane must've really pushed him." Gojo chimed in.

"What? He did?" Chazz asked, genuinely curious.

"Yeah, the Asshiter guy had to shuffle his entire deck and suddenly drew all the Destiny Hero cards he needed, and this was after he'd been using Elemental Heroes in the first half of the duel," Gojo explained.

Gojo flashed a shit eating—grin as he turned towards Alexis, "Heart of the cards, am I right?" Alexis responded with a brief, annoyed glance.

"Bro… lost." Syrus looks devastated like his whole world is crumbling.

"Hey, cheer up, Sy! Yeah, Zane might've lost, but I can't help but think about it – Hero against Hero! That's gonna be one epic showdown,"Jaden tried to console him, though his attention was still fixed on Aster.

~

After the match, Aster Phoenix found himself under the spotlight in a post-game interview with KCB (Kaiba Corp Broadcast).

Reporter: Wow, that was one incredible duel Aster Phoenix. Any words you liked to say to the audience?

Aster: He was certainly strong. But it was destiny I would win. While averting his gaze from the camera.

[Maybe try looking at the camera when you say that. You were sweating on the very last turn.] Gojo grumbled silently to himself.

Reporter: You have kept your Hero deck a secret for so long. Why bring it out now?

Aster looking at the camera: I've enrolled in duel academy, where there's another duelist who uses a Hero deck, like I do."

~

"Hey bro, is he talking about you Jaden?" Tyranno asked.

"No shit." Gojo answered for him. "Who else uses hero's cards?"

~

Aster: I made my Hero deck before he did!!!

[[Why does that even matter?]] Gojo and Dark Magician Girl pondered simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Alexis discreetly nudged Gojo's thigh, signaling him to keep any snarky remarks to himself. She had already caught him making a mocking expression.

Aster:...But this duelist ended up becoming quite famous overnight. The other day, I heard this duelists had fought to a draw with Zane. So, I thought that, if I beat Zane, it would prove that I was stronger. That is why I chose this moment to unveil my deck.

[Petty.]

Aster: And this is my message to the other #1 pro duelist who is also in academy island. That this is my real deck.

[Ass.]

Aster: Finally, I am using this interview to issue a challenge to the duelists who uses a Hero deck like mine, Jaden Yuki and the other #1 pro duelist who stands in the same position as I do, Satoru Gojo.

[Fuck.]

~

Bastion asked, "He was using Zane as a stand in?"

"This guy really thinks he is a hot shot…" Gojo sighed as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number and then texted someone.

Dark Magician Girl who was in spirit mode was curious and asked telepathically [Honey, what are you doing?] she tilted her head as she asked that.

[A response.] Gojo cheekily replied.

~

"Jaden Yuki, Satoru Gojo, I will be at your school tomorrow. Let us settle this for real then. Which of us is truly worthy of the Heros that we use… and which of us are truly the strongest."

That was when the broadcast ended.

'Tsk. I guess it was too late.' Gojo clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He had dialed the Kaiba's PR department, forwarding his response in hopes that Aster received it during the interview.

The message he sent was, "You already fucking lost to me and Jaden once. Going for 0-2 isn't really good for your record."

***

A/N: Kinda busy for a month or two. Very unfortunate. 6/10/24

So, here's a question for you. As an adult, if you have an itch within your butt crack, and let's say someone does a 'thousand years of death' move (inserting a finger up there) and it scratches that itch, should you be relieved that the itch is gone?

Me personally; I think I would be happy that the itch is gone. No homo btw. Might even thank the person.