"Aster has five cards in hand."
From the look of it,and the Spirit aura gathering around him,he must've drawn Destiny HERO - Plasma.
Hikaru thought quietly to himself.
'Plasma…'
The so-called "Ultimate D" in the original, revered as a godlike being and initial vessel of the Light of Destruction. That said, in the anime, its track record was bizarre… once Aster obtained it, he never won another serious Duel.
Even the previous wielders of Plasma only ever lost with it.
If Aster defying his fate and challenging the world-ending destiny was a form of rebellion, then in Hikaru's eyes, using Plasma to fight Sartorius in this canonical unwinnable Duel,
This was the true Duel of Destiny.
Aster was thinking the same.
The World's effect was simply too overwhelming. If he didn't deal with it this turn, even a single attack could finish him.
So even if it cost him everything, he had to remove The World now.
He gritted his teeth.
Diamond Dude's predictive effect was incredibly powerful. Normally, nothing could stop it,unless it was something like Hikaru's Thunder Dragon Colossus, which could prevent cards from being sent to the Graveyard.
Anyway, The World just happened to be that kind of card.
So,
"Normal Summon: Destiny HERO - Drilldark."
Like Diamond Dude, Drilldark was a HERO embedded with drills.
[Destiny HERO - Drilldark] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1600 ATK
"Hmm... you planning to chain HERO combos?"
"Exactly, Sartorius! Drilldark's effect: when summoned, I can Special Summon a Destiny HERO from my hand with equal or lower Attack!
"I Special Summon Destiny HERO - Drawhand!"
Drawhand, a cowboy in a suit, pointed his finger like a gun and fired a D-shaped laser.
[Destiny HERO - Drawhand] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1600 ATK
"When Drawhand is Special Summoned by a HERO effect: both players draw 1 card."
Aster and Sartorius both drew.
Then, they each looked at their new card.
'Yes!'
They both reacted inwardly.
Aster had drawn Over Destiny,a Spell that could Special Summon a Destiny HERO from the Deck based on another's level.
With this, he could meet Plasma's Tribute requirement!
"Activate Spell: Over Destiny! Targeting a Destiny HERO in my Graveyard, I Special Summon a Destiny HERO from my Deck with a level equal to half its level or lower. It will be destroyed at the end of the turn."
A warm golden light rose from his Graveyard.
"I target my Level 8 Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
"With Level 8, I can summon a Destiny HERO of Level 4 or lower!
"I choose: Destiny HERO - Dreamer!"
A jester-like HERO leapt onto Aster's field.
[Destiny HERO - Dreamer] Level 1│DARK│Warrior│0 ATK
"Three monsters..."
Sartorius looked on, his expression momentarily grave.
"Sartorius,"
"I Tribute all three monsters on my field!"
Boom, boom, boom!
Blood-red light burst from the three HEROes, shooting skyward.
"A person's fate should be their own to control! Neither god nor devil has the right to dictate human will!"
"My destiny,and humanity's fate,must be determined by humanity itself,"
"Descend! The Ultimate D!
"My fate!
"Level 8, Destiny HERO - Plasma!!"
The blood pillars coiled together, then exploded.
From the blast emerged a demonic warrior with tattered wings,
[Destiny HERO - Plasma] Level 8│DARK│Warrior│1900 ATK
"Plasma... yes, it was once the vessel of the Light of Destruction, a monster with unmatched power.
"Despite that…" Sartorius pointed, "To fully use Plasma's power, you must activate D - Force! But if you do that, you'll lose the right to draw cards. In other words... you forfeit the future."
He tapped his temple slowly.
"Wake up, Aster..."
"Sartorius. Look again,at your field."
'?' Sartorius glanced over,his eyes widened.
The World on his field had turned ashen, as if drained of all power!
'What!?'
"This... this can't be! Impossible!!"
"This is the true Plasma, Sartorius!" Aster shouted. "The form freed from the Light's influence,this is Plasma's true power!"
"Woah…"
Hikaru instinctively stepped back.
"Now Plasma doesn't need D - Force to negate the effects of all opponent monsters!" Aster said with a confident smile, turning to nod at Hikaru.
This was the realization he came to after losing to Hikaru and speaking with his father's spirit.
The former Plasma was just a card tainted by the Light of Destruction. His father never meant for it to be like that!
Over the past days, he had pushed himself, endured countless wounds,just to awaken the true Plasma and earn its recognition.
Now, he would use Plasma's power to defeat Sartorius!
Just like Hikaru taught him in their Duel,
Fate is something you choose!
"Tch..."
"Even without D - Force, Plasma can still absorb your monster to gain half its Attack!"
"Go, Plasma!!"
Plasma soared before The World, wings unfurled. The mechanical angel struggled to flee but was dragged in and absorbed.
"Plasma gains half the absorbed monster's Attack!"
[Destiny HERO - Plasma, ATK: 1900 → 3450]
"Unbelievable..." Sartorius watched Plasma darkly.
More shocking than losing The World... more than its absorbed power… Was that Plasma could seal effects and operate at full power without D - Force?
No D - Force meant Aster could still draw cards next turn.
Meaning…
His future was no longer predetermined!
That was more terrifying to Sartorius than losing the Duel itself.
"Sartorius, take this direct attack!"
Earlier, Dystopia had already burned Sartorius for 1600 damage.
Even after regaining 500 LP, he only had 2900.
If Plasma's attack landed,it was over!
Plasma gathered power, ascended. A bloody rain fell from its wings like knives,piercing toward Sartorius.
BOOM,!
The high tower was engulfed in smoke.
"How do you like that, Sartorius? This time, you,wait, what!?"
[Sartorius, LP: 2900]
"Why!?" Aster gasped. "Why didn't you lose!?"
"Heh heh... hahahaha! Aster, I'm proud of you...
"Anyhow, fate had already decided when you summoned your monster!!
"Thanks to Drawhand's effect,I drew this card:
"Arcana Force XIV,Temperance!!"
Aster's pupils narrowed.
"By discarding this card, I can reduce battle damage to 0 once!!"