☆22: Last Phase, part 1

"Draw!"

Sakura continues, "At this phase, I activate Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer to revive himself"

A blazing pillar shoot out from the ground, transporting Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer back from the afterlife to the field.

Yuji clicked his tongue, seeing the annoying HERO is back.

He then observes Sakura's field with a worried look, [Just one attack from him would result in our defeat...]

He then looked into his set card.

[If this card enough?], he frowned.

After that he slowly shakes his head, [No, I shouldn't be pessimistic... I must believe in my card!]

Sakura creases her eyebrows, "Battle! Destiny HERO Phoenix Enforcer attack Yuji directly!"

Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer swing his hand, creating three blazing crescent attacks like crimson crescent moons.

The attacks he created from the swing is so beautiful, as if Leonardo da Vinci was stroking the crimson wet paintbrush on the canvas made from air to draw another masterpiece, it was truly a superb movement.

"Trap card open, Ridiculing World!"

But such amazing technique would met with ridicules from those who isn't that knowledgeable in the arts, of those who envious, and those who gained pleasure from mocking others, like the newly emerges phantoms who laughing at them.

The newly emerges phantom not only stops the attack easily with a mere wave of hand, it also laughs at Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer as to mock how weak and ridiculous his attack is.

Ridiculing World's Phantoms: "KUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

Yuji explained, "Ridiculing World, all monster on the opponent's side gained 100 attack, and monsters with higher attack than their original value can't attack until the end of this turn"

D-HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer

(LV.8) ATK/2500>2600 DEF/2100

More and more Phantom surrounds Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Aster, and Sakura, mocking and laughing at them.

"What a distasteful hologram", comment Aster, as he's frowning and disgusted by the laughs and the whispers.

Sakura who previously been showered by the protest and hateful comments by Aster's fans, felt that the ridiculing laughs from Yuji's Ridiculing World effect is much more loathsome.

She can't even help to think is this Yuji's way of ridiculing her? Creating masses of phantom just to mess with their head and heart? Is stopping Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's attack is just a cover, and his real target is their mental?

Whichever it is, Yuji had done a good job.

"I... end my turn", said her in a low tone that can be heard by the opposing duelists.

One by one Ridiculing World's Phantoms started disappear, gradually the ridicules stops, even so their distasteful laughter still ringing in their ears like a satanic reminder.

Yuji nods, smiling that his trap card successfully wards off the opposing HERO from attacking any further.

Jaden who looks at them turned his head to his tag partner, "Yuji, I think your trap isn't only affecting their monster"

Yuji smile wryly while scratches his cheek.

"Yeah, I never knew that Ridiculing World's visual and sound effect can be this... effective. Then again, we'll be screwed if not for it"

"You're right, we'll be screwed if not for it. Draw!", Jaden nods, then draws a card while casually speaking with Yuji.

Sakura, who's watching and hearing their conversations look petulant.

"I'll screw the both of you later on my next turn", whispers her as the ridiculing laughs still ringing in her ears.

The moment they set their eyes on Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Jaden and Yuji's eyes become sharper like a dagger.

"It's truly a menace...", comments Yuji, looking at Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer with a hint of anxiety.

Jaden slowly nods while smiling, "Yeah...", he then clenched his hand, "But not for long!"

Yuji crossed his arms, asking him, "You've got a plan?"

The corners of Jaden mouth bend upward, "You've bet I do!"

Jaden shows the last card in his hand to Sakura.

"I activate the spell card, Card of Sanctity! Both players then draws until they have six cards in their hand"

Sakura and Jaden then quickly drew 6 cards at once.

With grinning expression, Jaden start his move.

"I activate the spell card Mind Control!"

When Jaden activated the spell card, Aster were stunned.

[Jaden Yuki, you dare to steal my Destiny HERO right in front of my eyes?!]

Aster turned his head to Sakura. Before he even spoke, Sakura nods her head already knowing what he wanted.

I'd rather die than being NTR'ed

Something like that.

Sakura waved her hand, "Not on my watch, as now I activate Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect!"

Before Jaden brainwashed him, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer spreads his wings and jumped high into the air.

Immolating himself in blue flames to become the legendary bird of paradise.

"Destruction Nocturn!", said Sakura.

The Phoenix dive in quickly, flying toward the big holographic card that stood in front of Jaden.

Watching the impending attack, Jaden clenched his hand, as this is the exact thing he wanted to happen.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for!", shouts Jaden.

Before the phoenix crashed itself, Jaden quickly took a card then shows it to Aster and Sakura's face, surprising them.

"I activate the quick-play spell, De-Fusion!"

De-Fusion.

A spell with the primary function is to cancel or specifically return the fusion monster on the field back to The Extra Deck, and re-summon the materials used for its fusion back to the field.

A card that can be used for offensive and or defensive purpose, in or against a fusion deck.

Before the paradise bird hit it, the blazing Phoenix disappears into thin air, leaving Sakura and Aster's field defenseless.

"Yyy... Yosha!!!", Jaden jumped joyfully, as he managed to beat Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer.

Aster's eyes widened as he saw his strongest Destiny HERO (at his current disposal) solved so easy by Jaden.

Yuji who witness Jaden defeating Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer clenched his hand in excitement.

"You did it! You truly did it!!", said Yuji joyfully.

When he witnessed Jaden defeating Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Misawa immediately stood up from his seat as surprise filled his eyes and heart.

"That guy... he managed to defeat it!", said Misawa.

Syrus and Chumley also stood from their seat, as the two of them hugs each other, happy to see Jaden winning against Aster's strongest monster.

As for Alexis, she just sat down while watching at Jaden's happy face.

It is unknown why, but a single tear almost fell from the corner of her right eye.

"You did it... Jaden", whispers her, as she clenched her hand in front of her bountiful bosom.

Looking at them, Sakura wanted to laughs along. But, because they are an opponent right now, so she can't celebrate.

That, and she very slightly worried about her tag team partner who stood beside her.

As a duelist, watching her own Ace monster got defeated is truly a painful experience, and one can change their demeanor in an instant in a duel.

Like Aster, who now filled with intense fighting spirit that can be mistaken as if he wanted to kill Jaden.

"Don't get it over your head, our duel isn't over yet!", reminds Aster solemnly.

Jaden glanced at Aster, then he waved his hand while apologized.

"Sorry, Aster"

After he apologized, Jaden suddenly points his clenched right fist to Aster with solemn expression, as he said to him.

"Now, we're even"

Aster slightly raised his eyebrow, as he remembers what Jaden said in his previous turn.

-●-●-●-

"Next turn... I'm going to bring down your Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!!"

"You're free to try", sneers him.

-●-●-●-

Aster let out a deep breath, then shifted his attention to Sakura, "Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer is in your hand now"

"You mean... I can keep it?", asked Sakura.

"Only until the duel is over", replied Aster.

"... so stingy", teased her.

Aster slightly grits his teeth, then let out a grunt as to show his dislike as he stares at Jaden.

Lloking at his demeanor, Yuji then called out to Jaden.

"Jaden,the duel isn't over yet. Better ready your next move", reminds him.

Jaden nods, "Um, you're right!"

[That's right... the duel isn't over yet!]

Jaden quickly took and thenactivate a spell card.

"I activate the spell card Warrior Returning Alive to return Bladedge from The Graveyard back to my hand!"

Aster and Sakura's eyelid twitched, as Jaden then shows Elemental HERO Bladedge and King of The Swamp in his hand.

"By using King of The Swamps as the subtitute for Sparkman, I fuse both monster in my hand by using Fusion Gate's effect!"

He then continues to explained.

"Due to Fusion Gate's effect, rather than going to The Graveyard, the materials for fusion summoning would be banished instead"

"Let's do it!", said Jaden, who then raised his hand high to start the chant.

"Hero clad in golden armaments, unite with The Spirit that ruled over the murky swamp! Become the lightning that devastate everything!"

A whirlpool of blue and orange energy appears above Jaden, E•HERO Bladedge and King of The Swamp transform into orbs of light that swirl together in the whirlpool of unification.

His Duel Disk ejects a card from The Extra Deck.

"Fusion summon!"

Jaden raised the card high for everyone to see, and then placed it to blade with astonishing force.

"Appear, Elemental HERO Plasma Vice!"

A stream of high voltage energy resembling a dragon emerges from the center of the whirlpool.

It flies in the air about ten seconds, before it descent into the ground like a lightning strike.

The lightning strike hit the ground with astonishing impact, creating an intimidating thunderous explosion sound, and scorching mark on the ground along with thick grey dust smoke.

On the ground where the lightning strikes it, a Hero in dark blue suit clad-in bulky golden armaments were kneeling then gradually stands up while surrounded by yellow spark resembling a serpent.

E•HERO Plasma Vice (LV.8)

ATK/2600 DEF/2300

"Time for Battle!"

Jaden declares a battle, there isn't a single card in Aster and Sakura's field, their side is open and defenseless.

"Go, attack Sakura directly!"

E•HERO Plasma Vice engulf his right hand within the high voltage of lightning, then immediately punch the space in front of him, with his strike releasing a Lightning bolt in the form of a gigantic Fist toward Sakura.

"Rumbling Thunder!", shouted Jaden.

Sakura stood up, watching the giant fist of lightning approaching her, as she raised her arms to block the attack and the blistering sensation to her face.

[The attack... why is it so real?!]

"But, that attack won't reach me", whispered her, smiling.

Sakura quickly took a card from her hand, "At this moment, I activate Predaplant Sarraceniant's effect in my hand!"

"She still had a hidden card?!", said Yuji stunned.

A white abomination of insect and plant fused together emerges on her field. When it emerges, many female student present were disgusted by its squirmy appearance.

Predaplant Sarraceniant (LV.1)

ATK/100 DEF/800

"It's futile! Plasma Vice can deal piercing damage!"

The giant lightning fist crashed into Predaplant Sarraceniant's body, destroying it into countless white fragments like sesame seed.

"Kyaaaahk", The remaining energy left in the field become a spark that hit Sakura, electrified her which made her screams in agony.

Aster-Sakura |6200>4200|

"Predaplant Sarraceniant's effect, activate!", even after Sakura fell to her knee, with sheer strength and focus, she quickly activated her monster's effect, trying to flip the situation on their turn.

With exhausted breath, she explained.

"Predaplant Sarraceniant's effect. After damage calculation, if Sarraceniant battled an opponent's monster, destroy the opposing monster!"

"What??!!!", shouts Jaden, surprised as he's looking at Plasma Vice's figure.

Plasma Vice stood up proudly, but without a warning he breaks into countless bubbles.

Jaden, who saw his newly summoned HERO'demise, clenched his hand in frustration.

"If Sarraceniant is destroyed by battle or sent to The Graveyard from the field by card effect, add one Predap card from the deck to my hand", explained her.

Her Duel Disk ejects a card, and she placed it into her other hand.

Sakura stood up, then let out a deep breath, "It's a good thing I put some of them in my deck", whispers her.

Jaden slightly grits his teeth, now there isn't any monster on their field.

Like them, they're defenseless.

Even if they can somewhat set up a card, who know if the opposing duelists have the card that can destroy the whole back rows.

If that is really gappening, with just 500 Life Points and no monster to hold the line, it'll be the end for them.

"Set two cards on the field, then I end my turn", announced Jaden.

Right now is Aster's turn, but before he draws a card, he took a glance at Jaden.

Even though Jaden didn't face Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer head on with his monster, but he managed to overcome his effects, especially the revival effect.

That in itself need to be praised.

Thinking about it, the words from Sartorius about beating Jaden still remain fresh in his memory.

[Jaden Yuki... Sartorius' last word about you can improve my growth as a duelist, I still think of it as a mistake. Rather than you, I believe that Yuji Kusanagi would be the one who helped me improve]

The corner of Aster's mouth bend upward, for the first time in this duel Aster really giving Jaden the attention he deserved.

[But... your effort in this duel is admirable, you've got my praise for it! That's why... this turn to commend your effort, let me shows you another Destiny HERO that still slumber in my extra deck]

"Hmph. It seems I look down on you too much, huh?", said Aster, smiling.

Jaden become speechless, for the first time in this duel Aster seems to giving him a genuine smile, not that of a sneer or looking down attitudes on the opponent, rather... it was out of respect.

"Jaden, I said Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, is the strongest Destiny HERO at my current disposal. But, do you think he is the only one?"

The moment Aster finished his words, Jaden and Yuji were stunned.

Because of his last words, Everyone including his opponents and tag partner left wondering what kind of monster that equal to Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer.

Aster put his fingers on his deck,

"Draw!!!", then draws a card in beautiful arch just like swinging a Curtana also known as Blade of Mercy, a ceremonial blade used at the coronation of British Kings and Queen.

The moment Aster saw the card, he smiles.

"Right now, I activate the spell card Monster Reborn"

Aster raised his hand, "Come back, Destiny HERO Dystopia!"

The knight-like Destiny HERO revived, he's wearing a Corinthian Golden helmet with a big letter of 'D' etched on the forehead.

Destiny HERO Dystopia (LV.8)

ATK/2800 DEF/2400

Without wasting any more time, Aster activate his effect.

"If this card is special summoned, I can target one Level 4 or lower Destiny HERO in The Cemetery, then inflict damage to the opponent equal to the target's attack!"

Yuji grits his teeth, while a sweat trickling down from Jaden's forehead. Looking at their measly Life Points of 500, if Dystopia's effect goes through, it'll be the end for them.

"I choose Destiny HERO Denier in The Cemetery as the target, and inflict 1100 damage to the both of you!"

Dystopia clenched his hand, then summons a dark rotating sphere as big as a basketball.

"Dystopia! Squeezed Palm!"

But before Dystopia launches his attack, Jaden immediately respond by pressing his Duel Disk's button.

"This moment, I activate the trap card, Memory Lost! When an effect of an attack position monster is activated, negate the effect, then change Dystopia's position into face-up defense position!"

The rotating dark sphere disappears. Dystopia, who seems lost, tilted his head a bit then kneeled with his head lowered.

But rather than getting angry, Aster let out a playful smiles instead, as what Jaden doing is already within his expectation.

Aster waved his hand, "This turn, I activate Destiny HERO Denier's effect in The Cemetery. Once per duel, If there at least one Destiny HERO monster in The Cemetery or field, I can special summoned him from The Cemetery"

A New Destiny HERO with blond hair, and chain wrapped around his thights and arms emerges on their field.

D-HERO Denier (LV.3)

ATK/1100 DEF/600

"Not only that, if this card is normal or special summoned, I can take one Destiny HERO monster from my Deck, Cemetery, or Banishment zone, and placed it on top of my deck"

Jaden and Yuji knit their eyebrows, as they surprised by the amazing effect of Destiny HERO Denier.

"The one I took is Destiny HERO Dynatag!"

Told him as Aster's Duel Disk ejects a card, as he then took it and placed it on the top of his main deck.

"Next, I use Fusion Substitute in my hand to fuse Dystopia and Denier on the field!"

Aster's eyes lit up, showing a blazing crimson flames behind the tranquility of his blue colored eyes.

He started the chant:

"The Hero who denied the cruel fate! The Hero of the dark world! Combine into one, and reign over Utopia's twilight!"

The knight-like HERO and The Chain-using HERO jumps toward the vortex of blue and orange energy above then swirls together into the vortex of Destiny.

Like a priest, Aster raised his hands high.

"Fusion summon!", after that, he clasped his hands together.

A new Destiny HERO appears. Shining Golden armor radiated like sunlight with a hovering winged helmet with letter D in the front for the face.

"Come on, Destiny HERO Dusktopia!"

Followed by the falling white and red feathers, The New Destiny HERO slowly descent from the heaven like an angel, with the sole purpose to bring the last judgement to Humanity in promised Mahsyar field.

D-HERO Dusktopia (LV.10)

ATK/3000 DEF/3000

"It's beautiful...", whispers Alexis, watching Dusktopia descends.

Aster clenched his hand, "With this, your defeat is sealed", told him like a royal knight who about to kill an assassin.

Jaden and Yuji stunned, it seems Dusktopia's radiant light has hypnotized both of them.

"Battle!", the moment Aster announced the battle phase, both of them snaps from the trance.

"Dusktopia, attack Jaden with everything you've got!"

D-HERO Dusktopia jumps out, his body radiates a brilliant light of heavenly judgement, mesmerizing the spectators' gaze like a Golden Sunset.

D-HERO Dusktopia spreads his arms, conjuring a golden magical seal in front of him with a big letter 'D' in the middle and the incantation words: 'nec in sideribus fatum nostrum tenere sed in nobis', circling it.

Nec in sideribus fatum nostrum tenere sed in nobis.

Or,

Not to hold our destiny in the stars, but in ourselves.

A fitting description for Aster and his Destiny HERO.

"Radiant Justice!", yells Aster, extending his fist.

D-HERO Dusktopia strikes the magical seal in front of him with his punch, sending out a radiating beam of yellow lightning toward Jaden.

Sensing the danger, Jaden immediately issue an activation, "Trap card activate, Negate Attack!"

A whirlpool of white, red, and black energy appears in front of Jaden, absorbing the radiant lightning with the intention of harming him.

Aster clicked his tongue, "What a persistent pest..."

He continues, "I want to end the duel this turn, but... it seems Destiny still favor you", comments Aster.

Listening to his word, Jaden let out a solemn expression.

"You're wrong Aster. It wasn't because of Destiny that we made it this far, it is because the combination of me and Yuji's skill and also our cards that have pushed us this far"

Aster snorted, "Hmph! Whatever..."

[Jaden Yuki, to be on the very top of Dueling world, skill and cards isn't enough... we need- I need the power of Destiny]

Jaden slightly grits his teeth, then exhales a deep breath.

He looks after his remaining card, then his mounted deck.

[Thank you my deck. Without your support, we can't get this far]

He turned his head to Yuji.

[The Next turn... let's believe in Yuji!]

"Hm?!", Yuji felt a strange sensation, as if someone patted him on the shoulder.

Yuji turned his head, and he saw Jaden clenched his hand while smiling, he opens his mouth wanting to say something, but he closed it and shakes his head, then giving Jaden a thumb up gesture instead.

[Your spirit... I'll accept it!]

"It's my turn, Draw!", Yuji draws a card, creating a beautiful horizontal arch, but when he glanced at it, his eyes and pupils widened.

[This is...]

He looks at the newly drawn card, it wasn't what exactly what he has hoped for.

There isn't any card in their field, and the only card in his hand is just this one.

One card that can bring Miracle, and Despair.

This is his last chance, would he do it or not?

One miss, and it is over.

Yuji's eyes lit up, he then raised the card in his hand for everyone to see.

"I activate... Card of Desperation!!!"

Card of Desperation, a card with powerful effect but with a cost so devastating that its eclipse its own usefulness.

Called it desperate, but this is the only and the best way for Yuji to grasp the victory.

"This card, let me draw three cards from my deck... and send the rest to The Graveyard!"

Everyone stunned, looking at the card he has activated.

Misawa shocked and curious, "What do you think, Kusanagi?! Sending the rest of your deck to The Graveyard, are you really that desperate?!! ", criticized him with a tone containing worry.

"Yuji Kusanagi, are you already lost your mind that thinking suicide is the better option?!", asked Aster, stunned.

Unlike them, Sakura slowly closed her eyes and then smiling, as he knew something about Yuji's action.

[Yuji isn't a fool. If he put that card in his deck, that's mean he knew a way to reverse it, then gained advantage by doing so]

Rather than replied with words, Yuji would answer them with his action.

Yuji put his fingers on top of the deck, and closed his eyes.

[I just need a chance, my deck..... please respond to me!]

He opens his eyes, "Draw!", then immediately pulls three cards and yelling so hard that he can felt the pain in his throat.

With a solemn expression, after he draws 3 cards, he discards his whole deck to The Graveyard.

"Let me show you, my... and Jaden's power!", exclaimed him as he clenched his hand in front of his chest.

"Jaden, Lend me your strength!"

"Of course!", replied Jaden, as he raised his fist.

"Yuji! No matter what happen, give everything you've got!", yells Jaden, grinning.

Yuji nods, then shows Aster and Sakura his last Miracle Fusion card.

At the same time, the corner of their eyes twitched. They can felt it, that something outrageous would come.

"The fusion material is one Fusion Elemental HERO monster, plus one or more warrior monsters!"

Yuji continues, "I fuse Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman... and All Elemental HERO in OUR Graveyard!"

Sakura narrows her eyes.

"So... it is coming?", whispers her.

The Elemental HEROES emerge and surrounds Yuji and Jaden.

"Amazing...", Jaden astonished and happy to be surrounded by them, he doesn't know why, but he felt that he wanted to cry.

In contrast to him, Aster were stunned to witness the rare event.

"Fusing... All Elemental HERO?", told him with trembling voice and body.

In his heart he was happy, touched even... but on another side he was scared, anxious, envy, and angry looking at them.

Yuji clenched his hand tighter, "Jaden, Everyone, let's show them the power of Elemental HERO!"

E•HERO Shining Flare Wingman flies, his body begins glowing and engulfs in shining white aura.

Yuji raised his hand high, and start the chant.

"When The Combined Power merges into one star, it will awaken a New Miracle!"

E•HERO Shining Flare Wingman burst into a whirlpool of bright white light energy like a Nebula.

"Witness it creation-Heaven Shaking Event!!!"

Elemental HERO Blazeman, Burstinatrix, Liquid Soldier, Ocean, Solid Soldier, Bladedge, Clayman, Stratos, Avian, Prisma, Sparkman, Two Necroshades, Gaia, Plasma Vice, and Nova Master jumps into the whirlpool of light!

Everyone stunned, but unlike before stunned or surprise as before. Their whole body trembling, as excitement and fear mixed into their heart.

Once again, Yuji refreshed their memories. Everyone thought that 5 monsters is the maximum limit to fusion summon a monster, but Yuji break the limit and use 17 monsters.

What happens today is world breaking record, a new History of Duel Monster is being made.

Not by a Teacher like Crowler, not by a Professional Duelist like Aster, not by a Duel King like Yugi Muto...

"Gather...", said Yuji in a lower tone, as his eyes turned from green to golden.

But by a single student!

A dark blue light penetrates the center of the whirlpool of light, opening the portal to the vast space of the universe.

"GX Fusion!!"

Yuji yells as he draws the card from his extra deck, which he raised it up for everyone to see its purple radiance!

"The Power of Unity, Wake Up Your Elemental HERO!!!"

A New HERO descend, but unlike any other HEROES. This particular HERO use translucent staff like a Clock's hand, a long moonlight hair, dark blue robe and long cape like it was made from the vast space of the universe that contains the countless Nebula and Stars!

Wake Up Your Elemental HERO (LV.10)

ATK/2500 DEF/2100

That's right... rather than a HERO, a Magician or Sorcerer would be the best to call him.

But this is the manifestation that the card Wake Up Your Elemental HERO created.

No matter what the appearance, he is...

a HERO.