"My turn. Draw."
Aster drew a card and immediately played one: "Normal Summon, Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude!"
The classic Diamond Dude opener.
Just like Jaden opening with Bubbleman and drawing two, Aster's signature opener was Diamond Dude milling a Spell.
[Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1400 ATK
"Diamond Dude's effect: Look at the top card of my Deck. If it's a Normal Spell, I send it to the Graveyard and can activate its effect next turn."
Aster drew the top card, glanced at it, then revealed it: "Normal Spell, Destiny Draw. Sent to the Graveyard,I'll activate it next turn."
"Oho? Destiny Draw, is it?" Sartorius kept smiling.
"Activate the Spell Card, Polymerization!"
"I fuse the on-field Diamond Dude with Destiny HERO - Celestial from my hand to Fusion Summon,
Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
The classic hi-tech superpowered HERO leapt onto the field as the two monsters fused, punching the air.
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia] Level 8│DARK│Warrior│2800 ATK
"Dystopia's effect: When Special Summoned, target one Level 4 or lower Destiny HERO in your Graveyard and inflict damage equal to its Attack Points!
"I target Celestial!"
"Crushing Palm!"
Dystopia jumped and landed in front of Sartorius.
[Sartorius, LP: 4000 → 2400]
"Set one card. Turn end!"
A clean first turn.
Hikaru nodded to himself.
In this world, Dystopia was still pretty strong. Not many cards could interrupt the opponent during their turn, and with 2800 Attack and destruction, Dystopia could reliably trigger its effect.
Not to mention its burn damage wasn't bad either. With some luck, it could wipe out all 4000 LP in one go. As Aster's ace, it was pretty solid.
He looked toward the opponent.
If it was Arcana Force...
It might be tough to play against this kind of Destiny HERO setup.
Honestly, Hikaru hadn't wanted Aster to duel Sartorius, since in the original, Aster lost to him.
Even so, that didn't really matter.
Just like how Jaden beat Professor Banner in the original,but in this world, Banner beat Jaden.
Victory in a Duel isn't guaranteed.
Even though he worried Aster might lose, no matter the reason, he supported Aster in facing Sartorius head-on.
To surpass his own fate!
"My turn. Draw!"
Sartorius drew sharply.
As he did, the tower's walls completely opened, pure white light pouring across the entire station. Sartorius glanced at his hand, lips curled upward, breath steaming.
"Destiny HERO - Dystopia,a powerful card that can destroy monsters during the opponent's turn."
He looked at his hand and couldn't help praising it.
Aster stayed silent, on guard.
"However, no matter how strong a monster is, if it doesn't exist, it's meaningless!"
"Activate Spell Card,Suit of Sword X!"
A giant Spell Card illustration appeared and began slowly rotating, chiming with a metallic "ding... ding..."
"Suit of Sword X's effect: spin the card. If it lands upright, destroy all monsters your opponent controls. If reversed, destroy all of your own!"
"Tch..." Aster looked at the spinning card, annoyed.
"Come now, Aster. Say 'Stop' to halt the card!" Sartorius said.
The card spun,upright, then reversed,until Aster called out: "Stop!"
The rotation slowed and came to a halt.
"Of course,
"Upright!!"
Clang!
The card stopped,upright!
Sartorius shouted triumphantly, "Suit of Sword X, upright position,destroy all of your monsters!"
A sword flew from the card, spinning in the air, then pierced Dystopia's chest.
As Sartorius stared at the now empty field, his smile persisted: "Aster, this is fate. Fate has chosen you and me. To follow fate is our destiny."
"Follow fate?" Aster recalled his Duel with Hikaru from a few days prior, his resolve hardening. "No, changing fate is what I must do!"
"Ah..."
Sartorius chuckled softly.
As expected of the Hierophant,the one chosen by destiny. He glanced at his hand, where a blank Monster Card lay.
"Heh heh..."
Although the Duel had been forced ahead of schedule by an ambush, preventing him from completing his intended "ritual"...
Once the Duel began, the Wheel of Fate would turn forward!
And now was the moment fate began to reveal its signs!
"Come, Aster! The Light of Destruction has already shown me the future! Your appearance before me now,is destiny itself!"
As he spoke, the Society of Light members gathered in the station instinctively knelt, bowing toward the tower.
He raised the blank card, and light began gathering from all directions, gradually illuminating the statue atop the tower.
Aster looked on, astonished.
Hikaru frowned.
Everything was different from the original. He had to respond according to the situation.
"It's time," Sartorius said, looking at his hand.
"Behold a greater power of destiny, Aster,Normal Summon: Arcana Force V - The Hierophant!"
A strange aura formed before Sartorius. Limbs and a body made of tentacles gradually appeared in the light.
A new Arcana Force monster never seen before appeared before Hikaru and Aster!
What card is that?!
Hikaru was shocked.
"Interesting... An angel?" Tierra, unaware of the situation or why Hikaru was surprised, observed the alien-looking mechanical angel. "Though I prefer my Infernoids... visually."
"Aster, this card was born from your destiny!"
"My... destiny...?" Aster stared at the card, stunned.
[Arcana Force V - The Hierophant] Level 4│LIGHT│Fairy│1500 ATK
Then the Hierophant card appeared in front of Sartorius, beginning to spin automatically. Aster timed it and shouted, "Stop!"
The card slowed, then stopped!
Clang!
The card's head pointed downward,reversed!
Aster clenched his fist, slightly thrilled: "Well, Sartorius, looks like fate doesn't always go your way either!"
"No, Aster!!" Sartorius' smile turned feral. "This is the correct result!"
"When Arcana Force V - The Hierophant is in reversed position: Special Summon one Arcana Force monster from your Deck to your opponent's field!"
"What?!" Aster froze.
"Witness,the final card of the Major Arcana!
"Arcana Force XXI,
"The World!"