☆15: Fighting Fire with Fire

"Is there something on my face?"

Yuji noticed for a while that his opponent Aster Phoenix is staring intensely at his face.

Aster shakes his head, "Ah sorry, it is... nothing", answered him as he was joking.

Yuji squinted his eyes, skeptical about Aster's answer, "I see... okay then".

Right then, Professor Crowler walk off to the center of the stage between the two teams.

With a mic in right hand, he started to speak, "Before we begin, let mei explain the rules".

Professor Crowler then raised his long thin left index finger.

"First! Both players share a Field, Life Points that is 8000, and Graveyard", then pointing his finger at Jaden, "UNDERSTAND?!".

"Gahk! UNDERSTAND!", shouts Jaden, startled by Crowler's sudden shout and finger pointing.

Syrus who hears about the first rule clenched his left hand in excitement.

"Yosha! Big Bro and Yuji both use Elemental HERO, this is very beneficial for both of them!", Alexis, Misawa, and Chumley nods at Syrus' comment.

Contrary to Syrus, Professor Crowler's expression become grumpy as he remembers that both of them use Elemental HERO deck.

He didn't know what kind of deck Aster and Sakura would use, but he already guesses that both Jaden and Yuji 100% would go with E•HERO.

In the tag-team duel, their deck probably have the best synergies.

Now he kinda regretted proposing The Tag-Team match and not a 1v1 match.

No matter if Aster was a Pro or not, Tag Duel is a team based duel, and in this kind of duel there's a limit to individual play or and skill.

Professor Crowler coughed then continues, "Two! You may give no words of advice to your tag-team partner, UNDERSTAND?!", shouted Crowler as he's pointing his fingers at Jaden... again.

"I said I UNDERSTAND!!", shouted Jaden as he became more irritated, "Geez... why is it always me?", asked him with tired tone.

"He's just checking your brain's non existence effect", said Sakura as to give a jab at Jaden.

"Oh, I see!", nods him.

But he then tilted his head slightly, as he just realized something.

"Wait... is that sarcasm?!"

"Pfft!", hearing her words, Yuji wants to laughs but cover his mouth to hold back the laughter.

"Knock it off...", said Jaden with an irritated look.

Yuji shakes his head, then apologizes to him, "Sorry, sorry".

"KOHOM!", Professor Crowler coughed again and stares at Yuji and Jaden with an angry look.

"Three! Unlike the normal tag-team duel where players can't attack on THEIR first turn, this time... players can attack ON the second turn of The DUEL, UNDERSTAND?!", this time he didn't only shout and pointing his finger to Jaden alone, but also Yuji.

"Everyone understands?", asked him again to both teams, and the four of them nods answering his question.

"So basically like Tag Force", whispers Yuji.

Crowler then pulled a coin from his pocket, one side have a Blue Eyes White Dragon picture etched on it while the other one have a D.A symbol etched on it.

"Now, to decide who's going-"

"No need, let them go first", before Crowler finished his speech, Aster cut in and let Jaden and Yuji team go first.

Everyone were surprised to hear Aster's words.

There are reasons why going first is more beneficial than going second.

In the first turn, if the player is skilled enough, not only they can set a board with powerful monster(s), they can also set disruption(s) to sabotage the opponent's play and combo the next turn they play.

Another reason why it is best to play first is that the opponent rarely seldom, or even can't to stop the first turn player (haven't set card(s) that can disrupt their play).

Of course there's a demerit for going first, that you can't attack the other player to drained their LP, but for a duelist with a deck specialized in FTK? Going first is almost like taking a candy from a baby.

Even though going first is considered better, going second also have its own charms.

Mostly, the second player can get information about the opponent's deck and then can set up a counterattack.

Not only that, for some deck which mostly play style around OTK or Beat down strategy, going second is more preferable as they tend to bulldoze through opponent's card(s) then chipping away their LP to zero (if possible).

Just look at Zane's Cyber Dragon or Kei's Frightfur deck for reference.

Crowler sigh inwardly, but because the one in front of him is a famous Pro Duelist he just smiled, "Are you sure, Signore Phoenix?", asked him.

Not only him, but the students present also pondering his decision.

They're speculating the reasons why Aster wanted to go second is because to gain intel first, or have a deck that specialized in OTK, or maybe even both.

Aster turn his attention to Sakura, asking her, "Is that alright with you?"

Sakura nods, "Doesn't matter...", replied her with blank expression flat as a cutting board.

Aster chuckled, "You heard her"

Crowler nods, then asked them for the last time, "Okay, then... both team ready?"

"Yes" x4

After confirming their readiness, Professor Crowler raised his hand, then shout:

"Now, the tag-team duel officially begins!"

The moment Crowler finished his words, a thundering beep-like sound chimes in, signaling the start of the duel.

"Good luck!", told him, as he's leaving the stage.

At the same time, the four of them put their respective deck into the Duel Disk, like putting a magazine into a gun.

The moment the deck inserted, the booting-like sound chimes in, after that their Duel Disk expanded, and each player draws 5 cards from the mounted deck to their hand.

"Duel!!!" x4

Jaden-Yuji |LP 8000|

Aster-Sakura |LP 8000|

"Let me be the first one to strike!", yells Jaden as he draws a card.

Jaden made a grinning smile after looking at his cards, then he immediately put a card to the Duel Disk's blade.

"I activate the spell card 'Polymerization'!"

Not a second has passed, he immediately took two cards, then shows The Elemental HERO Avian and Burstinatrix toward Aster and Sakura.

[This guy!], Aster slightly squinted his eyes when Jaden shows Avian and Burstinatrix to his elegant smiling face.

"Using Avian and Burstinatrix, I fusion summon Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!", told him smiling.

The Whirlpool of Blue and Orange energy swirl together above Jaden as he's started to chant.

"The HERO with wings of justice, unite with The HERO of burning spirit!"

The HERO with Bird-like costume and The Female HERO with burning-revealing costume jumped!

Their body begins glowing and changes to that of green and red comet-like form toward The Whirlpool.

"Spread your Wing, then Dive in with Scorching Heat!"

Jaden put the fusion monster card from his extra deck to the monster zone.

From the center of the whirlpool, a giant crimson meteor-size fireball descend toward Jaden.

"Fusion summon!"

Before it hit him, the hero within the fireball spins his body, dissipating his fiery flame aura.

"Come forth! Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!"

The newly emerges HERO then strikes a pose by pointing his Dragon head-like weapon toward Aster.

The One-winged HERO with grafted Fire Dragon Head for the right hand emerges on Jaden's field!

E•HERO Flame Wingman (LV.6)

ATK/2100 DEF/1200

"It's here! Big Bro's Favorite HERO!!", exclaimed Syrus happily.

"Hehe...", Proud of his HERO, Jaden asked The Pro Duelist.

"How about this guy? Aren't my HERO the coolest?!", asked him by pointing his thumb toward himself.

Yuji beside him shakes his head while smiling amused, while Sakura watching him with indifferent look.

Aster look at E•HERO Flame Wingman with a smile, "Well... it was so-so".

Hearing his answer, Jaden was disappointed, "Che, is that so?", told him with a dejected tone.

He thought that this is a golden chance to show off one of his Favorite HERO and get praised for it, but sadly... Aster didn't give it much credit.

[Okay! Next turn, I'm going to show him the power of my Elemental HEROes], promised him.

"Then, turn end", announced him.

[Come then, Aster! Let me see what kind of deck you'll be using!], say Jaden in his mind, smiling excited.

Aster was smiling looking at Jaden excited expression, unfortunately the emotion inside him is completely different from his outer expression!

The moment Aster realized what kind of deck Jaden's using, he only felt disdain and mockery toward him, as he really wanted to beat his goofy-ass smiley face with his fists.

[The coolest HERO? Don't joke around! You think because you've got Flame Wingman, you can be so arrogant? You haven't faced 'these guys' yet, Jaden Yuki!]

It is a good thing that Jaden can't read people's mind, because Aster's thoughts about him would dishearten him (probably).

"Come, Aster! Show me your deck!! Let me see if your monster is cool as mine!", insist Jaden.

"Hmph! You'll see soon enough", answered Aster with charming smiles.

Aster then shifted his gaze to Sakura.

"You heard him, right? Go on, I don't mind", said Sakura as she gives her approval, knowing what he wants.

"Alright, pardon me if I go first", nods Aster.

[Here I go...]

Aster places his fingers on the top of his deck.

"Draw!", the way he draws the card is so beautiful yet fierce, like he was blocking a bullet with a newly made dagger.

All eyes now focusing on Aster, they all wondering what kind of deck he'll be playing.

Even the calm and serious Zane secretly pinched his right thumb as he can't wait to see his deck.

"Soon, you'll see something interesting", said Kei while munching on her Pop Corns.

"Maybe...", nods Zane.

"Dang it! I forgot to bring my Diet Coke!!", shouted Kei.

"Ha...", Zane beside her, then sighs as he tired of listening to Kei's antics.

Thanks to her loud tone, the first year three seats below now noticed her presence.

"Elder Brother and... DRS' Leader?!!", Syrus were the first one to noticed and surprised by their presence

Hearing his remarks, Kei throw him a Pop Corn to his eye which luckily blocked by his glasses.

"It's Kei senior or Prez to you! Remember that!", told her as she continued putting Pop Corns to her mouth.

"Prez, You're here too?", asked Misawa.

"Of course I am! Who doesn't want to watch a Live and Premium Reality Show? Right... um... Bob?", said Kei as she forgot about Misawa's name.

Misawa sighs, "Am I really that unnoticeable?"

Fortunately for him, the other senior sitting beside Kei noticed him.

"Misawa, right? Don't worry, this girl's memory is more or less like a floppy disk", mocks Zane.

The moment Zane told Misawa, the attention of students around shifted into him for a while.

"Is... that a mockery? Hey! That's a mockery, right?!", exclaimed Kei.

"Who knows?", said Zane after he let out a subtle smirk.

Kei begin to throw a tantrum like a child and begin punching Zane in the shoulder, fortunately for him Kei's punch is more or less like a child and didn't hurt him one bit.

His younger brother Syrus let out a dried laugh, as he's watching the banter between Zane and Kei.

"Keep it quiet! Aster start making his move!", said Alexis to reminds everyone to focus on the duel right now.

Aster's turn...

"Jaden Yuki, let me show you something interesting!"

The spectators' cheer for Aster is getting louder, as they are going to watch the premier of Aster unfolding his deck.

"Let's go! First, I activate the spell card Polymerization".

Aster shows the spell card Polymerization first before he sent it to The Cemetery zone. After that, he immediately took 2 cards from his left hand and show it to Jaden's face.

Realizing the cards in Aster's hand, Syrus' eyes expands in surprise.

"Aster's deck is...", mumbles him.

Jaden: "That cards!!!"

Yuji: "No way!"

Both Jaden and Yuji were surprised seeing his cards.

Aster let out a smirk, "From my hand, I send Elemental HERO Avian and Burstinatrix to The Cemetery to fusion summon a monster!", told him as he discarded the cards into his Cemetery zone.

"What?!!!"

The whole spectators shocked! To think the deck Aster Phoenix is using is the same Elemental HERO deck as Jaden and Yuji.

"It's an Elemental HERO deck!", surprised Misawa.

Crowler's jaw dropped as he was shocked of seeing Aster's cards.

"Mamma Mia! Why... why is it another HERO user?!", cried him as he pushed his cheeks.

The Whirlpool consist of Blue and Orange energy swirl together above Aster.

The HERO with Hawk-like armaments and The Female HERO in a Fiery Outfit jumped!

Then their body begins glowing and changes to that of dark green and dark red comet-like form toward the whirlpool.

"Come out! Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer!!", shouted Aster.

Their side...

"Huh?! Why it isn't Flame Wingman?!", asked Syrus.

Hearing his question, Misawa answered:

"Have you forgotten already? The special trait of Elemental HERO is that the same materials can be used to summon a different high level HERO monster"

He continues, "Avian and Burstinatrix can combine into Flame Wingman, and the other is Phoenix Enforcer"

Alexis also joined the chat, adding more to the explanation, "Both of them have the same stats as Attack, Defense, and Level, but both HEROes have different effect from one another"

Misawa nods at her explanation.

Syrus nods, "I see...", but then he remembered that something didn't add up, "Wait! Then What about Yuji's?"

Alexis scratches her cheek, "The same also applied in Yuji's case, the material for his Fusion Monster is more um... generic rather than specific, so that makes a new HERO with different stats and effect than those TWO, that's what I know"

"So it is like that? I finally get it!", nods Syrus.

The four of them then continues to watch Aster's Elemental HERO being summoned.

The new HERO slowly descend from the whirlpool like an angel.

A mechanical White Wings resembling an eagle's, wearing a black suit with flame-like patterns, a huge gauntlet with 3 talons attached to it for a weapon on his right hand, and a reptile like tail with the same color and pattern as the suit.

The HERO then standing in front of his master like a knight that protect his kingdom's King.

The whole presence of this particular HERO is like a flaming sword that can slice and scorched the victim's flesh at the same time.

Very Rad, but Dangerous.

"Jaden Yuki, this is what a cool HERO looks like!", said Aster arrogantly.

E•HERO Phoenix Enforcer (LV.6)

ATK/2100 DEF/1200

"A- A... Amazing!!!", shouted Jaden excitedly with eyes twinkling like a stardust in the night sky.

"That's a cool looking HERO, Aster! To think you're a HERO user too!", said Jaden as he's rubbing his nose.

"Um...", unlike Jaden, Yuji just nods and maintain his mundane smiling calm face.

But that on the outside! While on the inside:

[My Cards! That's some serious cool looking HERO right there!]

While Yuji and Jaden are busy praising how cool looking Aster's HERO is, Sakura just standing there unnoticed like a shadow, watching the boys having fun praising the newly arrived Super Hero.

Sakura: (•-•)

Aster nods his head, his heart filled with pride.

"I gladly accept your compliment, but... don't think it'll soften me, Jaden Yuki!"

He then points his finger at Jaden's HERO, "Go, Phoenix Enforcer! Take down Flame Wingman!"

E•HERO Phoenix Enforcer jumped high in the air, his right hand holding a huge fireball with seven different colors that bright intensely.

Jaden, who hears Aster's battle declaration, is confused.

"Eh?! Is he going for a mutual destruction?"

Hearing his confusion, Yuji shakes his head.

[Jaden! Phoenix Enforcer have different effect of that Flame Wingman, and that is...]

The corners of Aster's mouth arched upward.

"You really don't know anything about Elemental HERO aren't you?!", sneer him.

"Wha-"

Before Jaden start questioning him, Aster explains, "Unlike yours, my Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer has the effect that it can't be destroyed by battle!"

"There's such an effect?", amazed Jaden.

Like smart people watching an idiot, Aster snorted arrogantly, [This is the kind of guy HE wants me to duel? What a joke!]

He then points his finger toward Jaden.

"This is the end for you! Phoenix Shoot!", exclaimed Aster in high voice.

E•HERO Phoenix Enforcer launched the seven-colored fireball toward E•HERO Flame Wingman.

Jaden replied by pointing his finger toward E•Phoenix Enforcer, and orders his E•HERO Flame Wingman.

"Strike back, Flame Wingman!!", orders Jaden.

The one-winged HERO with grafted fire dragon head for a right arm start shooting a high temperature Flamethrower-like attack from the dragon's mouth.

Both attacks collided, creating a fiery chain reactions one to another in a MATTER symbol-like collision.

At the zero-point range, the two attacks tried to repel each other yet at the same time they're tried to pull each other.

This collision of attack resulting in a luminous and loud explosion accompanied by a strong shockwave and wind that can certainly destroyed any objects near it.

"Disappear, Flame Wingman!", shouts Aster.

Except for The HERO who carried The Phoenix's name.

Jaden grit his teeth lightly, and immediately move his hand in swinging motion, "This moment, I activate the set card!"

Even though his HERO is no more, the fight isn't over yet.

The holographic image of the face-down card start moving upward, revealing the secret beneath.

"Trap card, Hero Counterattack!"

Jaden explained, "When an Elemental HERO monster I controlled is destroyed by battle, my opponent can choose a random card in my hand, then if the chosen card is an Elemental HERO Monster, I can destroy one monster my opponent control and then special summon the chosen monster".

This is the moment that Jaden has been waiting for after hearing Aster's explanation about his E•HERO Phoenix Enforcer's effect.

[Phoenix Enforcer can't be destroyed by battle, so that's mean... outside of it, The Phoenix guy can be defeated!]

"Now, it's time for you to choose!", said Jaden as he's clenching his hands while staring at his opponent's monster.

Realizing Jaden's trap card, Aster secretly clenched his right hand in frustration.

He's then pointing his finger toward a certain card in Jaden's hand.

"The far left! That's the card I choose!"

Jaden took out the card Aster had chosen.

"This card... heh!".

Aster's eyebrows creased looking at the smiling Jaden, he's wondering if the card he chooses is the right one or not.

Looking at Aster's wondering expression, Jaden let out a smirk.

"What's wrong? Afraid your HERO getting destroyed?"

He then shows the card's back first before revealing if it's a monster card or not, as to tease The Pro Duelist.

[Don't tell me!]

Aster had guessed that the card he had chosen maybe is a landmine, and his sight shifted to the HERO he's just already summoned.

[Tch! Can't help it!], think Aster, irritated.

Jaden then slowly revealed the card he took, and...

"... Just reveal it already!", said Aster, slightly frowning.

"You've guessed right", and Jaden discarded the spell card to The Graveyard zone.

Aster's expression become sour, contrary to him Jaden is still maintained the happy-go-lucky attitude.

"Aiya~ as expected of a Professional, to think you can guess which is the right one! But thanks to you, I can draw more cards", said Jaden, laughing happily while scratching his hair.

"Tch!"

Hearing his words, Aster clicked his tongue in frustration.

The one who is amused by Jaden's antics is his teammate Yuji, and the only girl in the group, that is Sakura.

After a good laughs, Jaden immediately activate the discarded card's effect.

"Now, activate Card of Compensation's effect! When this card is sent from my hand to The Graveyard, I can draw two cards"

"Good Job, Jaden!", compliments Yuji.

The corner of his left eye slightly twitched, as he saw Jaden draw 2 cards.

[Is there a card with that name?]

Seeing an opponent draws a card outside their Draw Phase is a common occurrence in The Pro League. Heck, even he himself does it, so he doesn't really mind.

That... if the opponent isn't Jaden.

Moreover, because of him (even though he doesn't want to acknowledge it) Aster acquire a new knowledge about the spell card "Card of Compensation", and it'll be helpful in his endeavor as a Pro Duelist.

"My battle phase is over, then I activate the continuous spell card Mirage of Nightmare", Aster put a new card onto The Duel Disk's blade.

He continues to explaining the effect.

"Once per turn. During the opponent's Standby Phase, I can draw until I have four cards in my hand. Then, during my next Standby Phase, I must randomly discard the same number of cards or the entire hand if I don't have enough cards"

"Gah! A card that can replenish his hand!", said Jaden as he's scratching his head after realizing Aster's card.

[Jaden Yuki... Sartorius said that I would reach a greater height as a duelist if I met you, but now I think he was wrong.

How can interacting with him help my growth as a duelist? Rather than a growth in dueling skill, growth in stupidity and making a bad joke would be the truest case]

Naturally the next turn would be Yuji's, and before he announced the end of his turn, Aster took a glance at him.

[Yuji Kusanagi... unlike Jaden, Sartorius told me he's a dangerous one and must be exterminated]

Like a youngster who hasn't faced or knew the danger of frontline, Aster let out an arrogant sneer as if he knew and can deal with it.

"Hmph! Let's see if Sartorius' opinion on both of them is true or not"

He continues, "I set two cards, then end my turn!"

Aster set 2 cards in face-down position, then announced the end of his turn.

"Yosha, Yuji... the next turn I leave it to you", said Jaden.

"Um! Leave it to me!", replied Yuji.

With a proud gaze, he looks at Jaden and Yuji, especially Yuji.

[Well... If it was true, then I-]