The Shadow Duel officially began.
The swelling surge of chaotic energy drove Pharaoh, the plump cat, retreating several paces with his ears pinned back.
"What an overwhelming dark presence... Is this the true power of alchemy?" Ash Blossom could not help marveling from the sidelines.
"Wait, my body..." Suddenly noticing a strange weight beneath her feet, she stared down at her hands in astonishment.
"The Shadow Duel has commenced; even the bodies of virtual spirits materialize into solid form," Dark Magician Girl mused, rubbing her chin with a series of nods. "While this isn't my first time witnessing a Shadow Duel, it really is the first time I've observed one strictly as a bystander."
"Come to think of it, shouldn't we step in to help?" Dark Magician Girl asked, glancing curiously at Yubel beside her.
Yubel silently shook her head, her gaze fixed steadily on Jaden.
She harbored no doubts about Jaden's ability to win. What truly intrigued her was how he would achieve it. She still remembered that he had recently obtained a new Link Monster from an unknown source.
Could that card be the key to his victory?
"The first turn is mine."
Banner glanced at the cards in his hand and smoothly pulled one free.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Chaos Distill!"
A dazzling flare of light erupted behind Banner as a colossal, metallic alchemical condenser groaned into existence, venting plumes of hissing vapor.
"By this card's effect, from this moment forth, every card sent to my Graveyard is banished instead," Banner announced clearly.
"A banish-centric deck?" Ash Blossom's eyes brightened. "Gaining greater effects by banishing his own monsters from play..."
"Correct." Banner glanced over at Ash Blossom hovering beside Jaden. "It appears there are duel spirits in this world who possess a fine grasp of the alchemical arts."
"However, before that monster makes its appearance, there is one more matter I must attend to." Banner smiled serenely as he revealed another card from his hand. "I activate the Spell Card, The Forceful Sentry."
The Forceful Sentry?!
Ash Blossom gasped. A Forbidden Card! And an extraordinarily rare one at that!
"Through its effect, I may look at your hand and select one card to return to your Deck."
As his words fell, the surging alchemical pressure seized control of Jaden's hand, forcing the cards to float into the air and turn faceup before Banner's eyes:
[Elemental HERO Solid Soldier] [Elemental HERO Shadow Mist] [Polymerization] [EN Shuffle] [Fusion Destiny]
"My, what a splendid hand you have," Banner remarked with an amused chuckle. "While Polymerization is undeniably a powerhouse for HEROs, the truly troublesome element has always been the deep bonds between the heroes themselves."
Jaden's eyes narrowed. After dueling him so many times, Banner knew the ins and outs of his playstyle intimately.
It was true. Fusion was the ultimate potential of his deck, but what truly dictated the strength of his final board was the seamless synergy between his monsters.
"The classic HERO combo starters: Stratos, Vyon, and Shadow Mist," Banner observed calmly. "Every one of them poses a problem. Therefore, I choose to return Elemental HERO Shadow Mist to your Deck."
He reached out and tapped the projection of Shadow Mist, banishing it back into the deck.
"Huh? Why didn't he pick Fusion Destiny?" Ash Blossom asked, visibly puzzled. Fusion Destiny was a single card capable of summoning Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer all on its own!
"Because of Fusion Destiny's restriction," Yubel explained coolly, arms crossed over her chest. "If Jaden were to activate Fusion Destiny on his upcoming turn, he would be barred from Special Summoning any monsters other than DARK HERO monsters for the rest of that turn."
"Oh... is that how it works?" Ash Blossom blinked in realization.
"Indeed. I am well aware of the threat Fusion Destiny poses," Banner said, displaying two more cards from his hand. "Which is why, before that becomes an issue, I must draw the tools to neutralize your options."
"I activate the Spell Cards Steel Lamp and Bronze Scale!"
"While Chaos Distill is active on the field, these cards allow me to Special Summon Alchemy Beast monsters directly from my hand or Deck."
"Emerge! Alchemy Beast - Salamandra the Steel! Alchemy Beast - Ouroboros the Bronze!"
The two Spell Cards drifted into the condenser behind Banner, instantly reduced to cinders by roaring alchemical flames. A heartbeat later, a gleaming, silver white drake and an earthen gray, three-eyed bronze serpent materialized onto Banner's field.
[Alchemy Beast x2]
[Level: 3]
[ATK: 500 / DEF: 500]
"Alchemy Beasts cannot be Normal Summoned; they can only be Special Summoned by the effects of their designated Spells," Banner explained patiently. "In return for this restriction, however, each Alchemy Beast possesses the ability to attack an opponent directly."
"So weak!" Ash Blossom pouted, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "Throwing away so many cards just to summon two puny small fry? What kind of low-tier deck is this?!"
"Worse yet, he's down to just a single card in hand! Giving up that much card advantage for such a pathetic board is ridiculous!"
"Alchemy operates on an entirely different plane from ordinary dueling. Its foundational law is Equivalent Exchange," Banner replied smoothly, utterly unfazed. He flipped another card faceup. "Through Equivalent Exchange, base materials are refined step by step into transcendent alchemical mediums."
"I activate the Spell Card, Black Process - Negledo!"
"While Chaos Distill is faceup on the field, I can banish all Alchemy Beasts under my control. For every monster banished by this effect, I can draw two cards from my Deck!"
"What?!" Ash Blossom's jaw dropped.
Boom! Boom!
Two pillars of flame swept across the field, pulling both Alchemy Beasts into the roaring condenser. As the furnace flared with brilliant light, Banner drew four cards from his Deck in a single, fluid motion.
"That's... actually insane value," Ash Blossom stammered, gulping nervously. "Drawing four cards all at once..."
"Earlier, I severed the bonds between your heroes, Jaden. Now, it is time to seal away their boundless possibilities."
Banner slapped two more cards onto his Duel Disk. "I activate two Continuous Spells: Prohibition and D.D. Borderline!"
"Prohibition allows me to declare a card name. As long as Prohibition remains faceup on the field, the declared card cannot be played for the remainder of this duel!"
"The card I declare is... Fusion Destiny!"
Chains of heavy iron clattered out of thin air, binding the copy of Fusion Destiny in Jaden's hand so tightly that it turned completely dark.
"Next, the effect of D.D. Borderline takes hold."
"As long as there are no Spell Cards in my Graveyard, neither player can enter the Battle Phase."
The two Continuous Spells rose like towering fortress ramparts between Jaden and Banner. Watching the barrier solidify, Jaden's expression turned gravely serious.
"Isn't that way too unfair?!" Ash Blossom sputtered. "Not only did he lock down Fusion Destiny, but he completely shut down the Battle Phase too?!"
Because of Chaos Distill, not a single card would ever reach Banner's Graveyard. Which meant that so long as Banner willed it, neither duelist could ever enter the Battle Phase, giving a slow combo deck all the time in the world to assemble its win condition unchecked!
It was an outrageous lock!
"A HERO deck relies on fast aggression. If the game drags out indefinitely, it'll completely cripple his strategy..." Ash Blossom swallowed hard, a cold chill running down her spine.
"Lastly, I activate the Spell Cards Lead Compass and Tin Spell Circle!"
"From my Deck, I Special Summon Alchemy Beast - Leon the Lead and Alchemy Beast - Aretos the Tin!"
A gray quadruped beast and a silver-feathered eagle soared out from the alchemical furnace, descending gracefully onto the field.
[Alchemy Beast x2]
[Level: 3]
[ATK: 500 / DEF: 500]
This time, even though they were still two small-fry monsters with only 500 Attack, Ash Blossom couldn't bring herself to utter another word of mockery.
Every single win condition had been sealed tight.
Whether it was Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Sunrise, or Dark Law...
All of the HERO deck's standard boss monsters were thoroughly shut down by Banner's board.
With Fusion Destiny banned, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer couldn't even hit the field. Without a Battle Phase, Sunrise lost nearly all of its offensive value. And with Banner's deck banishing its own cards naturally, Dark Law was rendered completely toothless.
Banner knew Jaden's deck inside and out!
Ash Blossom swallowed dryly. Even Yubel, who had remained stoic until now, furrowed her brow with concern.
"Jaden..."
"Is there really a way out of this?"
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