"Destiny Hero," Yugen said, "indeed a rare hero series."
He paused and then smiled.
"Speaking of which, I heard there's a young hero user at Duel Academy with quite potential. You might want to engage with him when you get the chance."
"Yuki Judai, is it?" Ed frowned.
Saio had also been mentioning him frequently.
"Oh, you already know."
"Just an ordinary person," Ed said bluntly. "I'm different from those who use the power of heroes just for personal pleasure.
Heroes are supposed to carry heavy destinies, forced to fight their way forward. Our reasons for fighting, what we bear, are different. Don't compare me with such a person."
"The heavy destinies that heroes carry..." Yugen smiled, "but is it truly the fates of the heroes, or are you binding the Destiny Heroes with your so-called destiny?"
"What did you say?"
Ed shouted angrily.
"What do you know about me or the Destiny Heroes?"
Unwilling to say more, he continued his operation.
"Activating Destiny Hero: Diamond Man's effect! Once per turn, reveal the top card of the deck." Ed said, "If it's an Ordinary Magic Card, send it to the graveyard. During the next standby phase of one's own turn, you can activate that card's effect directly.
If not, then place that card at the bottom of the deck."
Diamond Man is quite an interesting card. It's not the single card's strength, but this card is exceptionally unique in the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! card pool, even to this day.
Drawing a Magic Card allows you to activate its effect directly, meaning you can ignore the activation conditions and costs of that Magic Card. In other words, say there's a Magic Card with conditions so harsh that it's nearly impossible to fulfill, but the effect is "Activate this card to win the game directly."
And you happen to draw that card via Diamond Man's effect, then you can ignore those absurdly harsh conditions and directly activate the over-powering effect of "winning the game."
Though using this effect is difficult, one can imagine the high theoretical potential. In fact, Diamond Man once spawned various circus tricks, and even some have built card decks specifically centered around Diamond Man's effect with a focus on Magic Cards.
Of course, in reality, pulling it off depends heavily on luck. After all, whether you draw a Magic Card and whether it's useful is unpredictable.
But it's different in the animation. At least whenever Ed appears to duel, there's not a single time he fails to draw a Magic Card.
"The card I drew is the Magic Card 'Price Reduction Shopping'."
As expected, Ed reveals the Magic Card he drew.
"Price Reduction Shopping allows you to discard a Level 8 Monster from your hand to draw two cards from the deck. Following Diamond Man's effect, I send Price Reduction Shopping to the graveyard."
He places the showcased Magic Card into the graveyard area of the Duel Disc. A cold gleam flashes across the diamonds on Diamond Man.
"According to Diamond Man's effect, next turn's preparation phase, I can directly gain the effect of 'drawing two cards from the deck' without discarding an Eight-Star Monster."
"As expected of a professional." Yugen nodded.
Not to say this maneuver was particularly flashy, but Ed hit his mark without fail; Diamond Man's effect always draws a Magic Card.
"Next, I activate the Magic Card 'Transcend Destiny'!" Ed said, "Choose a 'Destiny Hero' monster from the graveyard, and Special Summon a 'Destiny Hero' monster from the deck with a Level lower than half of the chosen hero's level."
"I choose Destiny Hero: Demon from the graveyard!"
As his words ended, the ghostly image of Demon appeared behind Ed.
"The Level of Demon is six," Yugen stated.
"Exactly, so I can Special Summon a Destiny Hero with Level Three or lower from the deck."
Ed raised his arm, and a beam of golden light shot from his card deck.
"Come On! Destiny Hero: Demon Man!"
The beam landed, transforming into the figure of Demon Man, who was indeed the voluntary police officer from recent urban legends. With a demonic appearance, a blood-red cape, and posing in a superhero landing stance.
[Destiny Hero: Demon Man, Attack Power 600]
"Monsters Special Summoned by Transcend Destiny's effect must be destroyed at the end of the turn," Ed declared, "but that's enough.
"I then activate the effect of Demon from the graveyard! By banishing the Demon in the graveyard from the game, I can Special Summon a card with the same name from the deck."
He picked up the card exited from the graveyard, displayed it, and then placed it into the card case behind him. Then he raised the Duel Disc again, and another beam of golden light shot out, as a hero with a D-icon on his chest, exuding a malevolent aura, spread his arms wide and roared angrily.
[Destiny Hero: Demon, Attack Power 800]
"It's only the first turn, and already there's three monsters," Yugen chuckled softly, "Is this the power of the top-tier in the pro circle?"
"It's not over yet."
Ed raised his hand and announced firmly.
He had long heard of the Revolver, knowing today's opponent was quite dangerous. Hence, he did not hold back, and instead of using his usual Elemental Heroes from the professional league, he immediately unveiled his best-kept Destiny Hero series, fully prepared to tackle this with his utmost energy.
"I offer the three on-field Destiny Heroes, Diamond Man, Demon, and Demon Man as tributes!"
A transparent beam of light shot skyward, stirring a storm that lifted the tail of his suit and tousled the silver hair on his forehead. The trio of Destiny Heroes were consumed one by one in the light, merging as if one, transforming into an enormous and imposing figure descending with unmatched momentum.
"Destiny Hero: Dogma, summon!!!"
Broad, dark bone wings unfolded, the hero donned a visor, and silver-white chains coiled around his neck, embodying the tangible shackle of destiny. The white blade in his hand shimmered with a chilling gleam, a storm swirling around him.
[Destiny Hero: Dogma, Attack Power 3400]
Undoubtedly Ed's trump card from the animation, one of the strongest Destiny Heroes prior to Blood Demon D's debut.
"Dogma cannot be Normal Summoned, it can only be Special Summoned by offering three monsters that include a 'Destiny Hero' as a tribute,"
Ed explained.
"And it's not over; I will also activate this card from my hand!"
A dark compartment on his Duel Disc popped open as he inserted the card, which then retracted swiftly.
"Activate the Field Spell 'Netherworld Clock Tower'!"
The night enveloped the sky, as an enormous, dark tower shot up to the heavens. Golden hands fixed atop the clock tower, seemingly a countdown of fate.
This was the main stage of darkness, with the tower imprisoning the prisoners of destiny.
"Finally, I place down two face-down cards, turn ends!"