The terrifying, muscle-bound sorcerer appeared in this dimension. Dark energy billowed from its body as endless resentment swept across the entire realm.
Countless spirits, conscious and unconscious alike, began instinctively scattering in panic. Even spirits that had already begun transforming into "Forgotten" spirits were thrown into confusion.
The leader of the Forgotten Realm's clan, the spirit formerly known as the Lion Wizard, took a deep breath.
"Lord Hikari!" He addressed Hikaru solemnly. "The Dark Master's resentment is about to fully unleash. Once it does, this world will likely cease to exist...
Thank you for your help to these forgotten, pitiful spirits. But it seems... it's time to say goodbye.
Please... leave this place quickly."
He had clearly given up hope on this duel.
Although this wasn't a conventional "Shadow Game" in the traditional sense...
Once Exodia was fully unsealed and its resentment toward the mortal world was released, this dimension would be destroyed by its fury. At that point, no one could survive here.
Tierra, for once, didn't dismiss an ordinary spirit's words.
She gazed at this sorcerer, so massive it bridged earth and sky, and felt uneasy.
Based on her experience and knowledge, and from her visits with Hikaru to the Magician's domain, there probably wasn't an ordinary spirit in that domain that could compare to this sorcerer.
Tierra glanced sideways at Hikaru.
"Thank you for the suggestion, but no. I'm not leaving."
"But, Lord Hikari..."
"I believe in Aster." Hikaru spoke slowly. "He will bring the true answer. For me, for everyone, for our friends."
Adrian was stone-faced. Hearing his beloved's screams, seeing her unconscious, his heart ached terribly. But for humanity, for the academy, he had to make this decision.
He spoke. "I sent Left Arm and Right Arm from my hand to the Graveyard. Through Exodius's effect, for each type of 'Forbidden One' monster in the Graveyard, its ATK increases by 1000."
Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord, ATK: 0 → 2000.
One thousand per card?
Aster looked at Adrian's Graveyard.
So that was why he recovered the Forbidden One cards first. To start fresh, sending all five to the Graveyard one by one, performing the "ritual."
"Battle! Exodius attacks Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude!"
"When Exodius declares an attack, I can activate its effect: I send one 'Forbidden One' card from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard. I send Exodia the Forbidden One from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
The Dark Master's body grew even more massive. Resentment engulfed the surroundings, making Aster choke.
Exodius, ATK: 2000 → 3000.
Exodius slammed its palm down on Diamond Dude. With a boom, the monster on Aster's field was instantly annihilated.
Simultaneously, Aster lost the corresponding LP.
Aster, LP: 4000 → 2400.
"Guh..."
Aster clutched his chest. In that instant, the Dark Master's power had pierced through him. Thousands of spirits' curses, wails, and cries blasted in his ears simultaneously. Even having faced the Light of Destruction, Aster nearly collapsed.
It wasn't just the Dark Master's power. Rather, this Dark Master appeared so "evil" precisely because it bore the endless resentment of the Forgotten Dimension.
Not just their world. Curses and suffering from spirits across all worlds were channeled into this "world's first forgotten one." For a duelist, this soul-piercing agony was the most excruciating torment imaginable.
"Exodia the Forbidden One sent to the Graveyard from the Deck..."
He struggled to stand.
"Aster, watch out for those five cards!" Hikaru called from the sideline.
Through his haze, Aster realized...
He couldn't let all five assemble!
Indeed...
"That's right." Adrian made no attempt to hide it. Even without Hikaru's warning, he would have said it here.
Because with Exodius at his side, he understood that the Dark Master's unsealing couldn't be done through trickery. He couldn't just rush to collect all five. He had to tell his opponent, let them know he was working toward assembling the five cards.
Only when he could fully unseal Exodia would he have earned the right to duel according to his own philosophy. "When five types of 'Forbidden One' monsters are assembled in the Graveyard, the controller of Exodius wins the duel!"
"Hmm hmm hmm... This power really is incredible..."
"With this, any enemy could be easily defeated, right?"
A terrifying smile spread across Adrian's face.
"Is this really okay?" Aster challenged after straightening up.
"Ha ha ha, what's wrong with obtaining the world's strongest power?" Adrian clenched his fist, a savage, excited grin on his face. "With this power, I can save everyone! No matter what the mastermind is, nothing can defeat the Dark Master's power!"
"..." Aster was silent for a long time. "Save everyone. But before that, you've already sacrificed one person."
Adrian's excitement and facade slowly faded. Internally, he was struggling. He didn't want to sacrifice his beloved, but if this method could save everyone...
"It's okay, Aster..."
Just as the two argued over this, the unconscious Echo's voice seemed to reach them.
Her soul floated beside the Dark Master, persuading Aster. "If it helps Amon achieve his dream, I'm willing to sacrifice myself..."
"Echo..." Adrian looked at her, voice heavy.
"Foolish! Foolish!" But Aster had no intention of stopping because of Echo's words. "If that's the case, how can you call it protecting everyone? Before you save anyone, you've already murdered someone!"
The spirits looked at each other.
Originally, despite fearing Adrian's actions, since both the man and woman agreed, they figured Aster had nothing left to argue.
They hadn't expected Aster to completely disregard whether it was voluntary.
"Does consent make it not murder?" Aster's tone was severe. "Fine. Let's say you succeed. Let's even say you obtain the Dark Master's power and defeat the mastermind out there. So what!
Regardless of the outcome, in the process, you've already murdered one person!
If all of humanity is saved by murdering one woman, then conversely, all of humanity bears the sin of killing at least one companion!"
He rarely spoke at such length.
"...I will bear that sin. Forever... forever!" Tears streaked from Adrian's eyes.
Having to kill his own beloved was unbearable agony. But if it meant defeating evil, even achieving peace and equality for all humanity, he was willing to pay that price.
"You'll bear it... Then the person standing before me is no longer a classmate I've exchanged pleasantries with, but a murderer." Aster's expression was cold as stone as he reached for the top of his Deck.
"Anyone can talk big. You haven't saved a single person so far!" Adrian shot back coldly.
Neither he nor Echo were close to Aster. At the academy, they were barely acquaintances who occasionally worked together in the infirmary.
Yet now, Aster was here making a fuss...
"It's time to let go. None of this has anything to do with you!"
"When evil happens before my eyes, as a hero, I cannot stand by." Aster showed rare passion, claiming the hero's mantle. "And now, I will save a classmate who is about to commit a crime, who may be heading down the wrong path!
Do you have any more plays, Adrian!"
"...If you insist on continuing, then no one can save you." Adrian spoke.
As long as it wasn't Aster's turn yet, Exodia was only partially unsealed, not fully.
But if Aster took his turn, Exodia would gradually unseal and ultimately destroy everything!
Despite his harsh words, Adrian's time with the academy students and Aster had made him reluctant to hurt them.
"My turn ends."
"My turn. Draw!"
Aster drew a card. It seemed to burn with fire.
Not just the card. His entire body felt like it was ablaze.
He narrowed his eyes at the card.
Thump, thump.
His heart was pounding violently.
Roaring flames erupted outward from him.
The towering inferno seemed to set the entire dimension ablaze.
"Ohhh!" The Lion Wizard was impressed.
These skyscraping flames?
It seemed he had underestimated these two humans.
Back then, Hikari had been so dazzling that he hadn't paid these two much attention. Now it was clear they were no ordinary duelists either.
"Last turn, Diamond Dude's effect sent Heavy Storm to the Graveyard. Its effect activates now!"
"Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on the field!"
Gales howled. A terrible storm swept in from afar. Countless spirits were knocked sideways, clinging to the Lion Wizard just to avoid being blown away. But at the storm's center, Aster and Adrian simply stood in place, facing each other.
The dark smoke, the towering black flames. In this moment, neither wavered.
"Hmph, but I have no Spells or Traps on my field. Yours does. Is this your so-called destiny? If so, destiny seems to be on my side."
"No. This is destiny's choice."
"Hm?"
"The card being destroyed is my Trap Card: Break the Destiny!"
The Trap automatically flipped, revealing the image of Bloo-D raining blood in battle.
"Break the Destiny?" Adrian blinked.
"Break the Destiny's effect can only activate one of its effects per turn. And this card can also activate its effect in the Graveyard!"
A Trap that activated from the Graveyard?!
"I banish this card from the Graveyard. I add one Spell/Trap Card other than Break the Destiny that mentions Destiny End Dragoon or a Destiny HERO monster's name to my hand!"
He quietly opened his Deck and revealed a Trap. "I choose the Trap Card: D-Tactics."
He added it to his hand, then played the card he had just drawn. "And now, the final card. The power the Chief created in the light!
Normal Spell!
Fusion Destiny!"
"Fusion..."
Fusion and destiny...
Adrian looked toward Hikaru.
Hikaru's eyes lit up with excitement.
"This card uses monsters from the hand or Deck as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster that lists a Destiny HERO as material! The monster summoned by this effect is destroyed during the next turn's End Phase. After this card is activated, until the end of the turn, I can only Special Summon DARK HERO monsters!"
A severe restriction.
But the payoff was immensely powerful!
Fusing directly from the Deck!
Meaning one card could summon Dominance?
But at this point, that was meaningless. Summoning Dominance now wouldn't change anything.
"Fusion conditions: one Level 6 or higher HERO monster plus one Destiny HERO!"
Unfamiliar Fusion conditions!?
What was this...
Adrian's eyes widened.
A completely new... Fusion?
"I send Destiny HERO - Bloo-D and Destiny HERO - Malicious from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
"The world, humanity, the process of dueling shall be reflected in justice and destiny, taking on a brand-new form!"
"Fusion Summon!!"
Aster's body blazed with roaring flames. Black fire illuminated the entire dimension.
Hikaru instinctively reached into his pocket and saw a glowing card.
It was coming.
Hikaru breathed a sigh of relief.
"Level 8!"
"Become the undying hero!"
Scorching flames surged. A hero swung both arms, spread its wings, and slowly materialized behind Aster like his very shadow!
Destruction, death, suffering. In the end, what emerged was the undying flame that would never be extinguished.
"Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
BOOM!!
Adrian instinctively stepped back.
This monster was like Aster's shadow...
And his own shadow, his Fog King...
He looked at the Fog King in his hand, his pupils trembling.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer. Level 8, DARK Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 2500.
"While Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer is on the field, all opponent's monsters lose ATK equal to the number of HERO cards in my Graveyard times 200!"
"An excellent effect. But useless! Exodius is unaffected by opponent's monster, Spell, and Trap effects!"
"Is that so... Then I switch Fear Monger to Defense Position. Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's monster effect: during either player's turn, I can activate this. I destroy one card I control and one card on the field!"
"What?" Adrian froze. He only had one monster. "I told you, Exodius is unaffected by opponent's monster effects!"
"It doesn't matter!" Aster's expression was serene. "Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect activates! I destroy itself and Exodius!"
The phoenix leapt high, then hurled itself fearlessly at Exodius. Flames that could burn the entire world landed on the Dark Master's body, but couldn't scratch its surface. Instead, its armor only gleamed brighter.
"This..."
The monster he had worked so hard to summon had self-destructed?
The watching spirits were stunned. Even Adrian was dumbfounded.
"Ha..." Hikaru couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Tierra was puzzled.
Why was he laughing?
She naturally knew Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effects. After all, she had contributed to its creation.
She just didn't understand why Hikaru was smiling with relief when the situation hadn't changed.
"At this moment, I activate Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect! When this card is destroyed by battle or effect: during the next Standby Phase, I can Special Summon one Destiny HERO from the Graveyard!"
"..." Adrian fell silent, then his eyes grew wider and wider.
An undying monster?!
"I Set one card. Turn end!"
"There you go. Your turn, Adrian!"
"...Aster, what are you playing at? Just this won't defeat the Dark Master." Adrian spoke gravely. "My turn. Draw!"
"At this moment, I activate the Trap Card: D - Tactics!"
"During either player's Standby Phase, all HERO monsters on the field gain 400 ATK."
"400? A drop in the bucket. Even 2500 plus 400 is only 2900, the same as Dominance..."
"Heh. Just watch, Adrian. Last turn, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect: Special Summon one Destiny HERO from the Graveyard. Naturally, I choose Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
BOOM!
A towering pillar of fire erupted.
The hero that had self-destructed last turn descended behind Aster once more!
Its form was unchanged. Not the slightest sign of having been destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. The monster appeared perfectly calm and composed.
"At this moment, D - Tactics's effect activates!"
"?"
"When a Level 8 or higher Destiny HERO or Destiny End Dragoon is Special Summoned to my field: I target one card in my opponent's hand, field, or Graveyard and banish it!"
"What?!" Adrian was alarmed.
"Right now, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer has been Special Summoned to my field. So, D - Tactics's effect banishes from your Graveyard... Exodia the Forbidden One!"
This is bad!!!
Adrian watched the card in his Graveyard burn away, its existence erased, its resentment dissipating. His pupils contracted in shock.
Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord, ATK: 3000 → 2000.
"You can certainly choose to attack and gain 1000 ATK. But it won't matter!"
Adrian's expression was grave. He looked at his hand. "...No, there's still a chance."
"I activate the Normal Spell: Rage of the Forbidden One!"
"This can only be activated while I control only one Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord. If a card or effect activated this turn is still applying, I can negate that card's effect."
Hikaru frowned from the sideline.
Another absurd anime card.
In the original story, this card was outrageously powerful. It wasn't a chain-able Quick-Play Spell but a Normal Spell that could "retroactively" undo effects after they had already resolved!
How did something like this even exist?!
Because of this effect, Adrian could return the card D - Tactics had banished back to the Graveyard.
Despite this, cold sweat began forming on Adrian's face. He returned Exodia the Forbidden One to the Graveyard. And because of this, Exodius's ATK returned to 3000!
But...
Would that matter?
"I attack Fear Monger with Exodius! Through its effect, I send Left Leg from my hand to the Graveyard!"
Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord, ATK: 3000 → 4000.
Fear Monger shattered on impact. But Aster wasn't worried at all.
"With this, you have no more usable cards in your hand, right?" Aster knew exactly what Adrian had, since every card had been added through card effects.
Adrian had nothing to say.
"It's not that I believe in destiny. It's that you've locked yourself into your own destiny!
I activate Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect! I destroy itself and your Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord!"
The phoenix blazed once more, hurling itself fearlessly at the Dark Master. Fully aware it couldn't scratch this invincible sorcerer, it charged anyway.
BOOM!
In an instant, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer vanished from the field again.
"...Turn end."
"Then, my turn! Draw!"
Aster drew from his Deck. "At this moment, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect activates! I Special Summon itself!"
"Again..." Cold sweat ran down Adrian's face.
"No matter how many times! I will never... give up."
"At this moment, D - Tactics's Trap effect: banish Exodia the Forbidden One from your Graveyard!"
Banished again!
The phoenix's fire burned upon the sealed Dark Master. It couldn't understand why this weak "insect" kept bothering it again and again. Yet this undying phoenix, as if truly immortal, continued burning away its power.
Specifically, burning its rage, its resentment!
Exodius, ATK: 4000 → 3000.
"Not only that. Fear Monger's effect: when this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, during my next Standby Phase, I can Special Summon one Destiny HERO other than Fear Monger from my Graveyard!
I Special Summon Disk Commander in Defense Position and draw two cards from the Deck!"
All Standby Phase effects!
This was the tactics of destiny!
"Spell Card: Pot of Avarice. I return five monsters from my Graveyard to the Deck and draw two cards. I return Dominance, Diamond Dude, Bloo-D, Fear Monger, and Dasher to the Deck. Draw two more!"
Aster drew two cards from his Deck.
Spell Card: Greater Polymerization!
Seeing this Fusion card, Aster instinctively smiled.
Polymerization, Fusion Destiny, Greater Polymerization. The excellent powers Hikaru had shown him had changed him.
This Greater Polymerization was also a card he had traded from Hikaru afterward.
Hikaru had changed him through dueling, through light. And now, Aster would use his own methods to create the future.
"Adrian... at this point, I can't hold back in this duel."
"I activate Malicious's effect in the Graveyard. I banish it to Special Summon another Malicious from my Deck."
"Spell Card: Greater Polymerization. This card uses monsters from the hand and field as Fusion Materials. The Fusion must use three or more materials. I fuse Malicious, Disk Commander, and Decider from my hand. Descend once more!
Destiny HERO - Dominance!"
"...A monster Fusion Summoned with Greater Polymerization gains piercing damage..." Adrian clearly knew this card. "You thought of even that?"
Adrian's Deck was thicker than Aster's. If Adrian switched Exodius to Defense Position, without piercing, Aster couldn't win. Adrian could stall until Aster decked out.
But Aster had anticipated this.
"Dominance's effect: I look at the top five cards of my opponent's Deck!"
Dominance raised its hand. Five cards flew from Adrian's Deck. Aster studied them, placed "Burial from a Different Dimension" fifth, and selected one card to go on top.
"Then, phoenix, burn once more!"
The phoenix nodded to Aster, then without hesitation transformed into blazing fire, slamming into Exodius.
The Dark Master, which had been utterly indifferent, its body black as ink, finally shifted from the impact. Echo, held in its hand, slipped from its grasp and fell.
Adrian rushed over, reaching out to catch Echo.
"Adrian... I'm sorry... I..." Echo felt guilty. If she had sacrificed herself to Exodia sooner, things wouldn't have come to this.
"It's okay..."
Their eyes met. Adrian's face softened into a gentle smile. "It's okay. It's all over now."
"Turn... end." Aster took a deep breath and declared.
The next turn arrived.
The undying phoenix descended once more!
This hero who endlessly burned itself yet would never be extinguished seemed to mirror Aster's own heart.
No matter how terrifying the outside world or Darkness was, no matter how many classmates had fallen, he would never bow humanity's noble head!
Simultaneously, Exodius's ATK dropped to 2000 again.
Dominance's ATK rose to 3300.
Adrian drew a card.
He looked at it and couldn't help laughing.
"Ha..."
A Cloudian!
His own card...
The card he loved.
His heart had always been like a cloud, drifting with the wind. He wanted to protect family and friends, yet before he knew it, he had ended up here.
Fortunately, it seemed nothing was too late. Nothing irreversibly regrettable had happened.
So...
"I Tribute Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord on my field!"
What?
Countless spirits cried out in shock.
Exodius roared skyward. Dark power surged. But the darkness that had been burned away again and again, the resentment, had already been scorched layer after layer by the phoenix's flames.
With Adrian's action, the monster born of resentment gradually began to disappear...
In its place was an enormous rain cloud. A rain cloud shaped like a person.
Cloudian - Nimbusman. Level 5, WATER Attribute, Fairy-Type. ATK: 1000 → 400.
"A Cloudian?"
"That's right." Adrian smiled. "Battle! Nimbusman attacks Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
"Then meet it head-on, Phoenix!" Aster's face finally broke into a smile too.
Sartorius...
You were right.
I did make a new friend. One who made me stronger, better!
"Transcend destiny!!"
BOOM!
Rain cloud and phoenix collided. Countless plumes of steam erupted, but the steam wasn't scorching. It felt warm.
This was Adrian's true heart.
Adrian, LP: 2100 → 0.
...
STONES PLZZZ 💎💎