"With that, I end my turn."
No flashy plays, no card combos. All Aster had done was demonstrate his understanding and mastery of destiny.
"Draw."
Adrian's turn. He drew a card and glanced at it.
Aster could control five cards. Air Circulator had drawn him one, and the Draw Phase would draw another. Meaning he needed at least three more draws to reach Exodia.
Moreover, since Aster had already viewed the top five cards, he wouldn't have left any draw cards for Adrian...
Trying to stall with his current hand was pointless. Next turn, Aster would rearrange his Deck's top cards again, pushing Exodia the Forbidden One to the fifth position.
This was what Aster called "the destiny you can never reach."
Adrian glanced at his cards. "If that's what destiny dictates, then I'll willingly abandon everything.
Normal Spell: Card Destruction."
Adrian played the card he hadn't used on Turn 1.
Both players discarded their entire hands, then drew the same number.
Aster sent his hand to the Graveyard, then watched as Adrian discarded Left Arm, Right Arm, Left Leg, and Right Leg of the Forbidden One one by one. The spirits behind them nearly had heart attacks.
Then Adrian drew six cards, Aster drew three, and both examined their new hands.
Adrian saw Exodia the Forbidden One as his third card. He was silent for a moment.
As expected, obtaining Exodia's power couldn't be achieved through skill and luck alone.
The "ritual" had to be completed... the ritual of assembling all five cards.
Now, this card was clearly unusable.
And even if he recovered the Graveyard pieces, he'd still face Dominance's Deck-rearranging effect.
So eliminating that troublesome Dominance had to come first.
"I activate the Field Spell: Fog Castle."
In this dim dimension filled with countless bones, an enormous castle slowly materialized within the fog.
Then, atop Fog Castle, five beacon fires ignited, casting an eerie glow.
"While Fog Castle is on my field, this card can be Normal Summoned without Tributes."
From within the fog, a figure leapt from the darkness onto the field.
It wasn't particularly imposing. Compared to Dominance, it looked rather small.
Fog King. Level 7, WATER Attribute, Spellcaster-Type. ATK 0.
"0 ATK?" The Lion Wizard was surprised. "He's using a monster like that?"
Hikaru's expression grew increasingly serious.
Fog King... was no easy monster to deal with.
"While Fog King is in Attack Position, the effects of all other monsters on the field are negated." Adrian looked calmly at Dominance.
The imposing Destiny HERO ruler floating in the air began to waver under the mist's erosion, involuntarily descending to the ground.
"But with only 0 ATK, even if Dominance is negated, he can't defeat it, right?" A spirit raised the question.
"I activate the Equip Spell: Royal Sword."
Fog King raised its hand. An enormous sword fell from the sky into its grasp.
"This card can only be equipped to Fog King. At the End Phase of a turn in which the equipped monster battled, place one Crest Counter on this card. For each Crest Counter, its ATK increases by 800."
So that was how it built ATK?
But reaching Dominance's 2900 wouldn't be easy...
"Battle! Fog King attacks Destiny HERO - Dominance!"
"In terms of ATK, I'm higher!"
"No. Fog King's monster effect: when this card attacks, both this card's and the opponent's monster's ATK become 1!"
"Then they'd mutually destroy each other!"
"They won't. Because Fog Castle will protect the King!"
Fog King swung its massive sword at Dominance. Dominance raised its cape, fists blazing, the "D" on its chest erupting with a massive cannon blast.
BOOM!!
Dominance was destroyed. On the other side, Fog King was sent flying by the impact, landing weakly on another tower of the castle.
Looking back, the tower where it had just stood, its Monster Zone, had gone dark.
"When a monster I control would be destroyed by battle, I can extinguish one beacon to prevent that destruction."
Simultaneously, atop the tower, Fog King held the greatsword before it. A new light ignited on the blade.
Fog King, ATK: 0 → 800.
"So that monster can survive battle destruction at least four times?" The spirits looked at Fog King.
Four times meant its ATK would reach 3200, surpassing Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Already quite impressive!
No, it could even reach 4000...
"Dominance's monster effect!" While the spirits marveled at Fog King's strength, Aster was already shouting. "When Dominance is destroyed by battle or effect: I can Special Summon up to three Level 9 or lower Destiny HEROes from the Graveyard!"
It even had a death trigger?
The watching spirits sighed in admiration.
This monster was truly exceptional.
"I Special Summon Disk Commander, Diamond Dude, and Fear Monger from the Graveyard!"
Disk Commander, DEF: 300. Diamond Dude, ATK: 1400. Fear Monger, DEF: 1000.
Aster surveyed his field.
Normally, Disk Commander could draw two cards when Special Summoned from the Graveyard.
But because of Fog King, he couldn't activate effects.
"Turn end."
"My turn, draw!"
"At this time, due to Diamond Dude's effect activated last turn, I directly apply Destiny Draw's effect from the Graveyard. Without discarding, I draw two cards directly from my Deck!"
He drew rapidly and scanned his hand.
"I can't destroy it in battle, but battle damage still applies. And Fog King's effect only reduces ATK to 1 when it attacks, so...
I Tribute Disk Commander. Tribute Summon: Destiny HERO - Dasher!"
Disk spun on the field. Then the whirring of wheels sounded. Before long, a pitch-black warrior came speeding in, appearing on Aster's field.
Destiny HERO - Dasher. Level 6, DARK Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 2100.
"Battle! Diamond Dude attacks Fog King!"
Diamond Dude hurled countless diamonds, crashing into the fog. Fog King didn't hesitate, leaping swiftly to another tower.
Adrian, LP: 4000 → 3400.
"Then, Dasher attacks Fog King!"
Adrian, LP: 3400 → 2100.
After another fierce kick from the hero, Fog King bounded to the fourth tower.
Simultaneously, a new crest lit up on Fog King's sword.
Fog King, ATK: 800 → 1600.
"Can't get past the monster, so he deals damage directly through battle? Clear thinking." The Lion Wizard nodded.
On the other side, Adrian smiled. He looked at Aster. "Aster, when Royal Sword has four Crest Counters, I can send it and the equipped monster to the Graveyard to inflict 4000 damage to my opponent!"
What?
The spirits gasped in unison.
Two crests already!
Hearing this, Aster frowned. He looked at his hand, considered briefly, and Set a card.
"I Set one card. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw!" Adrian drew a card and glanced at it.
"Spell Card: Graceful Charity. Draw three cards from the Deck, then discard two."
Everyone watched him draw silently. After carefully studying his hand, he sent Exodia the Forbidden One and another card to the Graveyard.
"Battle! Fog King attacks Dasher! I activate its effect: both monsters' ATK become 1!"
Fog slowly engulfed Dasher. Its power and Fog King's gradually equalized.
Sure enough, with Fog King's attack, Dasher couldn't resist. It was swept away by the mist and vanished from the field. Simultaneously, the third crest on Royal Sword was filled with fog.
Fog King, ATK: 1600 → 2400.
"Wow, one more attack and he can deal 4000 effect damage! That's a win, right?!"
"He can win without Exodia!"
"I Set two cards. Turn end."
"My turn!"
After the initial verbal exchange, both had entered the zone. Beyond their dueling, neither said another unnecessary word.
Now, they only wanted to win this duel.
Aster drew a card, glanced at it, and smiled.
"I drew the Quick-Play Spell: Mystical Space Typhoon!"
"Oh no!!" Echo's face went pale.
At this critical moment, he drew Mystical Space Typhoon!
"It seems my destiny holds the advantage after all."
Aster smiled. "Mystical Space Typhoon's effect: destroy your Royal Sword."
Gales howled. The fog-forged sword was caught in the wind, swept up, spun, carried away, and finally lost from sight.
"You fell for it, Aster Phoenix!" But Adrian had been waiting for this, immediately flipping his Trap. "Trap Card: Crest Burn!"
"When a Royal Sword I control is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: I place Beacon Counters on Fog Castle equal to the number of Crest Counters Royal Sword had when destroyed!"
With his play, the crests from Royal Sword flew out, expanded, and transformed into an enormous fireball.
As the fireball appeared, Fog King's figure gradually faded until it was invisible.
"What? Why?"
Aster was confused.
This way, Adrian had no Monster Zones left to use.
"You'll see soon enough." Adrian spoke calmly.
Aster hesitated, looking at his hand.
"Regardless... since Fog King is no longer on your field, I can activate Diamond Dude's effect. I reveal the top card of my Deck... Normal Spell: Heavy Storm. I'll activate it next turn."
"Also, I switch Fear Monger to Attack Position and attack directly!"
If the attack connected, he'd win outright!
"Flip Set card: Threatening Roar!" Adrian pushed his glasses gently. "This turn, you cannot declare an attack."
Aster's brow furrowed deeply.
No way to attack now.
But Fog Castle seemed to be hiding some powerful effect, making him uneasy.
What could it be?
He suddenly heard a deep rumbling. He instinctively looked up and saw the enormous sealed gate wreathed in black miasma slowly opening in the sky. A being filled with resentment seemed to be descending.
Many spirits cowered behind the Lion Wizard or Hikaru, trembling as they gazed skyward.
The entire world seemed about to be engulfed by this resentment!
His pupils contracted.
Could it be!
He realized a possibility.
Adrian still hadn't given up on Exodia?!
Aster gritted his teeth. Actually, he had prepared specific counter-cards for this duel... Though they seemed unusable at the moment, this phenomenon... required preparation.
"I Set two cards. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw!" Adrian drew and glanced down.
Dark Factory of Mass Production!
Perfect!
With this, he could recover Normal Monsters from the Graveyard!
He silently Set the card. "I Set one card. Then, I activate Fog Castle's effect!"
"I send this card with all five beacons lit and my hand to the Graveyard. From my Graveyard, I add four Monster Cards to my hand!"
"What?!" Aster was horrified.
How could this be!
It was a full recovery!
Fog Castle began to slowly crumble. In the sky, the resentful monster started tearing through the gate that sealed it.
The spirits began trembling. The entire world seemed on the brink of collapse.
This newborn world of the Forgotten Realm looked on the verge of utter destruction!
"I add Exodia the Forbidden One, Left Arm of the Forbidden One, Right Arm of the Forbidden One, and Fog King from my Graveyard to my hand!"
Those four?
"And I'm not done yet, Aster." Adrian wore an expression of absolute confidence. "Flip Set card: Normal Spell, Dark Factory of Mass Production! This card recovers two Normal Monsters from the Graveyard!
With this, I win, Aster!"
Aster's pupils contracted. Just as Adrian was about to add the Graveyard cards to his hand, Aster reacted instantly. "Trap Card: Mind Crush!"
!!!
"I declare a card name. If the opponent has that card in their hand, they discard it and all copies!"
"I declare... Exodia the Forbidden One!"
"RAAAAGHHH!!!!"
In the sky, the Dark Master erupted with a terrifying roar. Endless resentment surged toward Aster, nearly suffocating him. Adrian watched, frozen in place.
BOOM.
The Exodia in his hand was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. At the same time, the other two Forbidden One pieces from the Graveyard returned to his hand.
Four cards.
Still not enough!
"...Ha ha ha ha. Aster, is this your conviction?"
Aster looked calmly at his opponent.
"But it's not over yet!"
There was more?!
Aster's eyes widened.
"I activate the Spell Card's effect in the Graveyard: Ultimate Seal Release Ritual!"
This was...
The card sent to the Graveyard last turn?
With Adrian's call, in the sky, the terrifying gate had been torn open by Exodia!
An enormous hand descended from the sky, reaching for the spirits. They scrambled to flee. Only Echo remained, standing calmly.
"Echo?!" Aster shouted.
But...
Echo simply closed her eyes, awaiting the hand's grasp.
Adrian's face was expressionless. The glare on his glasses completely masked his gaze. Head slightly bowed, he spoke. "As expected, unsealing Exodia can't be done with clever tricks... The unsealing ritual must be performed."
From the Graveyard, Exodia the Forbidden One automatically ejected.
"When Ultimate Seal Release Ritual is in the Graveyard, and I have five differently named 'Forbidden One' cards between my hand and Graveyard, I can activate it. I return all 'Forbidden One' cards from the Graveyard to the Deck. I send two 'Forbidden One' cards from my hand to the Graveyard. From my Deck or hand, I Special Summon one Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord!"
What was that?!
As Aster stared in shock, the gate in the sky was completely shattered!
A being wreathed in black miasma, utterly different from the legendary Dark Master, stepped through and descended.
It seized Echo. She let out a horrifying scream, then in agony, fell unconscious!
Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord. Level 10, DARK Attribute, Spellcaster-Type. ATK ?
The Ultimate Forbidden Lord's unsealing ritual had officially begun!