The massive arena blazed with lights and roared with voices, like a thousand surging waves becoming a boiling sea. Tension and excitement hung in the air; every inch seemed to crackle. From above, the crammed grandstands looked like a multicolored ocean of people.
A clash of the century—that's how the league billed it.
Stepping onto the stage were the two most-watched rookies in the circuit, both undefeated. Each was touted by every corner of the scene as a newcomer with the power to challenge the league's summit.
But today, one unbeaten myth was destined to break.
"So this is the so-called Kaiser, Zane Truesdale…"
Aster looked across at Kaiser, thinking.
The man wore all black, arms folded. His face was calm, yet a distinct, self-assured aura radiated from him.
Aster had heard the rumors—that Kaiser had changed a lot since entering the pros compared to his academy days. Likely he'd tasted the harshness of the scene and undergone a metamorphosis.
His instincts as a pro told him there was danger about this man.
Of course, not enough to shake his confidence.
Even if the outside world called it a clash of the century, even if everyone thought they were evenly matched and this would decide the rookie king, for Aster this was no different from any of his previous thirty wins.
He was just here to claim the victory fated to be his.
"Aster Phoenix," Zane Truesdale said coolly. "I hear you enrolled at Duel Academy as well. Pity our times there didn't overlap."
"Haha, perfect—then let's make up for that missed encounter right here."
Aster raised his Duel Disk and smiled.
Flames jetted from both sides of the arena, hyping the crowd and serving like a starter's pistol. Both Duel Disks snapped open.
"Duel!" x2
[Aster, LP 4000]
[Zane, LP 4000]
"I'll go first. Draw."
Aster glanced at the card he drew and revealed it.
"I activate the Spell 'Take Over 5'—send the top five cards of my Deck to the GY."
Zane nodded—familiar. In the academy, both Jaden and Kira often used it. Curious that Aster would, too.
But soon, he'd realize that wasn't the only coincidence.
Aster gave a mysterious smile.
"As I said in the interview, today I'm using my true deck—the one I've kept in reserve. You'll be the first pro to face it, senpai."
"Oh? I'm flattered," Zane smirked, arms still crossed, feigning indifference.
So this guy had rattled off thirty straight pro wins without even using his real deck—just playing around.
Don't underestimate him.
"I Summon Elemental HERO Avian in Defense Position!"
The crowd erupted.
A HERO deck!
This was Aster Phoenix's true archetype all along.
Seeing that familiar green whirlwind and pure white wings, Zane wasn't surprised—only the corner of his mouth lifted.
As expected.
His original deck was HERO.
[Elemental HERO Avian, DEF 1000]
Aster: "I set one card and end my turn."
He looked at Zane and smiled.
"Your turn, senpai."
Zane's lips curled into a confident grin as well.
HERO—what a fitting fate.
He'd faced HEROes more than once at the academy and considered those pilots top tier. Against that deck, he should have an edge.
And this was exactly what he anticipated.
"My turn. Draw."
Zane scanned his hand impassively, then let out a low, eerie chuckle.
"HERO, huh? Good. Then as you wish, let's use this duel to settle the throne we never contested back in school."
He whipped out four cards at once.
"I set one monster, and three back row. Turn end."
Aster: "?"
Audience: "?"
Even the crowd watching the stream back at Duel Academy was full of question marks.
Huh?
Going second and just setting four before passing? Is this really Kaiser?
Where's your Cyber Dragon? Your flashy OTK lines?
"Big bro…" Syrus muttered. "Feels like he's even more different since going pro…"
Their friends all vaguely thought this might be "someone's" influence, but no one dared say that taboo name at the academy.
No one spoke.
"No attack… are you looking down on me?"
Aster frowned.
Cyber Dragon was especially good at going second and hitting hard. This setup felt insulting.
"Looks like I'll have to show a little skill… My turn—draw!"
He lifted his Disk; a card slid out of his GY in a golden flash.
"Take Over 5's GY effect: in the Standby Phase, banish this card from my GY along with a same-named copy from my Deck; then I draw 1 card!"
Aster drew.
"Then I activate Polymerization!
I fuse the on-field Elemental HERO Avian with Elemental HERO Burstinatrix from my hand!"
Seeing the familiar setup, Syrus blurted at the TV: "He's going for Flame Wingman!"
But he didn't. Avian and Burstinatrix swirled into the Fusion vortex, and out stepped a new Elemental HERO.
"Come on! Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer, Summon!"
He bore Avian's wings; black armor scrawled with flame motifs. Wreathed in fire, three sharp talons extended from his fists.
[Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer, ATK 2100]
"Not Flame Wingman, but a variant Fusion," Misawa murmured.
Jaden had seen Phoenix Enforcer before, so he wasn't shocked that the same materials could yield another HERO—he just stared at Aster, eyes burning.
"A thirty-win pro… and he's a HERO user too."
Jaden's eyes sparkled.
"I really want to duel him!"
Across the field, Zane wasn't surprised; he just smirked.
"As expected—attack through Fusion. Reasonable. Fusion is HERO's strongest weapon. Combine weak powers and you get all sorts of incredible effects…"
Aster frowned. "What are you getting at?"
"Nothing."
Zane's gaze turned predatory.
"Only that at this moment, my set card activates!
Trap—Chthonian Polymer!"
When your opponent successfully Fusion Summons a Fusion Monster: Tribute 1 monster you control; take control of that Fusion Monster!"