"I set two cards and end my turn."
After the attack, Aster set two Trap Cards on the field and ended his turn.
That brought the turn back to Amaki Hikaru.
"My turn."
"Draw." Hikaru glanced at his hand but didn't act immediately. Instead, he looked toward his opponent.
Thanks to Mirage Swordsman's appearance, Aster seemed slightly more spirited, no longer the hollow shell he had been moments ago.
After nearly two years of Dueling in this world, and having taught Celina, Hikaru had developed a sense for an opponent's emotional state during a Duel.
Still... it wasn't quite enough.
"I activate Flame Swordsrealm's effect again. I send a monster from my hand to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon another Flame Swordsman."
Hikaru sent a monster to the Graveyard and summoned a second Flame Swordsman.
"Haha, I'm back again!" the swordsman shouted boisterously.
"Another Flame Swordsman?"
"But what good is summoning a second one?"
"No, don't forget Flame Swordsrealm's other effect! You can reduce the Attack of one Warrior-Type monster you control to increase all other monsters' Attack by 1000 until the end of the turn!"
"Oh!!" Someone exclaimed in realization.
"Battle!" Hikaru declared, entering the Battle Phase.
"...At this moment, I activate a Trap Card!" Aster flipped his set card. "Continuous Trap, Call of the Haunted—revive a monster from my Graveyard."
"I bring back Diamond Dude."
"And—it's not over!" Aster immediately activated his second set card. "Trap Card, D-Fusion!"
"Fusion from a Trap!?"
"Aster's countering with Fusion too!?"
"I recognize that card… he used it against Kaiser!"
'D-Fusion?'
Hikaru slightly raised his eyebrows.
'So that's how it is.'
"This card lets you Fusion Summon a Destiny HERO using monsters on the field. The summoned monster can't be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn."
Aster picked up Malicious and Diamond Dude. "Fusion Materials: a Destiny HERO and a DARK monster."
Clink—clink—
The clatter of countless chains echoed as the monsters turned into streaks of light and fused into the chains. Then, a warrior clad in silver-white armor with a cloak like a devil's claw appeared, clutching his face and roaring.
Unlike Elemental HEROes, Destiny HEROes focused on "darkness" and "depth." This Fusion Monster was a prime example.
"Fusion Summon! Destiny HERO - Dangerous!"
[Destiny HERO - Dangerous] Level 6│DARK│Warrior│2000 ATK
Clutching his last card in hand, Aster spoke: "Flame Swordsrealm's effect triggers when a monster declares an attack. You reduce one Warrior's Attack by 1000, and all other monsters gain 1000 Attack until the end of the turn.
So—if I stop you before the attack declaration, it won't activate!"
Aster discarded his last hand card: "I activate Dangerous's monster effect. During either player's turn, discard 1 card to send a Destiny HERO from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard.
Then, if there are Destiny HEROes in the Graveyard, all Destiny HEROes I control gain 200 ATK for each!"
He explained as he acted, "I discard Destiny HERO - Disk Commander and send Destiny HERO - Celestial from my Deck to the Graveyard. That makes four Destiny HEROes in my Graveyard."
That meant his Destiny HEROes each gained 800 ATK.
[Dystopia, ATK: 2800 → 3600]
[Dangerous, ATK: 2000 → 2800]
"At this moment, Dystopia's effect activates! Reset its Attack to its original value and destroy your Flame Swordsrealm!"
"Exalted Justice!"
A powerful suction force ripped through the flaming domain. In seconds, the flames were absorbed into Dystopia's hand and vanished with a sharp snap.
[Dystopia, ATK: 3600 → 2800]
Hikaru surveyed the field, unfazed.
Dangerous and Dystopia together made for a powerful setup. In this world, where opponent-turn interference was rarer, Aster's combo was genuinely intimidating.
Then again, Dangerous + Dystopia amounted to a budget version of Destroy Phoenix Enforcer. Hikaru wasn't that concerned.
He'd been through worse; His "resistance" had grown.
"Even though he withstood the offensive, it feels like Aster overextended, doesn't it?" murmured some spectators, puzzled by Aster's choices.
"Yeah! He could've just used Dystopia to destroy Mirage Swordsman. No need to worry about Flame Swordsrealm at all."
'No…'
Aster firmly dismissed that thought.
Though he didn't know all of Mirage Swordsman's effects, his Duelist's instinct and his knowledge of Hikaru told him: Mirage Swordsman definitely had an effect related to Fusion!
Aster, then I'll have Mirage Swordsman attack your Dystopia!"
"Bring it on!" Aster shouted back.
The two warriors leapt at each other, one twirling dual swords in a dazzling display of technique, the other radiating energy with a flourish of psychic force. Their powers collided, and both vanished from the field with a deafening boom.
But what shocked everyone was this:
Even though Mirage Swordsman disappeared, the flames guarding Hikaru remained.
"Mirage Swordsman's monster effect!" Hikaru raised his voice and hand. "When this card is destroyed by battle or effect, I can Special Summon one 'Flame Swordsman' or a Level 7 or lower monster that lists that name from my Deck or Extra Deck!
Come forth—
Special Summon in Defense Position:
Dark Flare Knight!"
The blue flames gradually turned black again. Moments later, the stoic knight reappeared, gripping his sword of black fire, locking eyes with his foe.
[Dark Flare Knight] Level 6│DARK│Warrior│800 DEF
'So it was a Fusion-related ability!'
Aster nodded to himself.
"The opposite of Mirage Knight?" he murmured, frowning. "So even if Mirage Swordsman is destroyed, as long as there's a FIRE Fusion Monster on the field, he can revive. And even without Flame Swordsrealm, he can still summon a Fusion Monster."
"An incredible card," Aster admitted.
As long as there was a FIRE Fusion Monster, it could keep reviving, transforming, and reviving again…
Like an immortal phoenix reborn from the flames!
Some students also began to realize how dangerous that had been.
If Aster had destroyed Mirage Swordsman instead of Flame Swordsrealm, Phantom would've summoned Dark Flare Knight, who could then use Flame Swordsrealm to destroy Dystopia by battle… inflicting damage and preserving Flame Swordsrealm for even more longevity.
This… was the power of an evolved Fusion card!
Aster stared at Dangerous on his field, torn.
His surname, Phoenix, meant an immortal bird.
Yet now, he felt like a prisoner in chains of such a Monster.
"I set one card and end my turn." With no way to continue the offensive, Hikaru set a card and said calmly, "Aster, what exactly have you been going through? Tell me. Maybe I or someone else has faced something similar. Maybe we can help."
"Help?" Aster's handsome face twisted as he lowered his head, voice trembling. "As if… You could possibly understand me!"