"Chthonian Polymer's effect—by tributing my set monster…"
Zane's grin grew feral, eyes gleaming like a beast.
"Hand over the Fusion you just Summoned—Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer!"
This twist was outside Aster's expectations. He hadn't thought an honest-to-goodness Cyber Dragon pilot would forgo aggression for a full defense—and then pack such a laser-targeted, NTR countermeasure.
But it wouldn't stop him.
"Quick-Play Spell—De-Fusion!"
Aster chained instantly.
"De-Fuse the Fusion Monster on the field! Return it to the Extra Deck and Special Summon the Fusion Materials from the GY!
I De-Fuse 'Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer'!"
Zane's face-down monster had already vanished as Tribute, its energy fueling his trap.
Hellish flames roared up, engulfing Phoenix Enforcer. A devil's hand reached out from within to drag him across the field.
But Aster moved quickly—before the claw could seize him, Phoenix split apart, bodies sliding left and right. The claw grasped at air; Phoenix Enforcer reverted into Avian and Burstinatrix, landing to Aster's left and right.
[Elemental HERO Avian, ATK 1000]
[Elemental HERO Burstinatrix, ATK 1200]
"Phoenix Enforcer returns to the Extra Deck, and I Special Summon Avian and Burstinatrix used as material," Aster smirked. "With the target gone, 'Chthonian Polymer' can't take control.
But the Tribute of your own monster is the activation cost. Even if the target's gone, the cost must be paid.
So your field is empty now."
Indeed, Zane's front row was bare—no defenses.
"Trying to hijack my Fusion to turn my HEROes—nice trick. But my HEROes and my tactics stand above that!"
Aster punched a command.
"Battle! Elemental HERO Avian and Elemental HERO Burstinatrix—direct attack!"
Though he declared both, turn order applies. Avian attacked first; Burstinatrix followed.
Avian kicked off, wings spread, feathers scattering like knives straight at Zane.
"Of course I can stop this much."
Zane didn't bat an eye. With a soft snort, he raised his arm.
"I activate my set! Trap—Mirror Force!
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls!"
Aster: "!"
The strongest shield, huh!?
Back-to-back pits—and this time it was the infamous strongest shield. With no answer, Avian's volley struck the holy mirror and rebounded in a brilliant blue sweep that annihilated both HEROes.
"Looks like your attack didn't pan out."
Arms still folded, Zane taunted softly.
"Is that so? I'm not done yet."
Aster swept his hand.
"Trap—Elemental Mirage. When your 'Elemental HERO' monsters are destroyed by an opponent's card effect: Special Summon all of them back with the same battle position!"
While that card never got printed, its Destiny HERO counterpart "Destiny Mirage" did.
He plucked two cards from his GY.
"Elemental HERO Avian! Burstinatrix—return!"
[Elemental HERO Avian, ATK 1000]
[Elemental HERO Burstinatrix, ATK 1200]
"Avian and Burstinatrix—direct attack!"
The pair charged again. As before, Avian moved first.
After eating two traps and still rebuilding, even Zane felt a twinge of respect. No wonder he was the 30-win phenom.
Avian's strike pierced Zane.
[Zane Truesdale, LP 4000 → 3000]
Aster: "Then Burstinatrix—direct attack!"
Burstinatrix crossed her palms; flames condensed into a fireball.
Zane planted his feet and smiled oddly.
The moment Aster saw that smile, dread prickled.
"I activate my set—Trap Card 'Trap of Darkness'!" Zane said. "If my LP are 3000 or less, I pay 1000 LP to banish a Trap in my GY, and this card's effect becomes that Trap's effect."
[Zane Truesdale, LP 3000 → 2000]
"I'll pay 1000 LP—and of course I'll copy this one."
Zane sneered.
"Mirror Force!"
"Ugh…"
Aster's face twitched; he was speechless.
Again!?
"Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls," Zane laughed. "Vanish—HEROes!"
Holy radiance swept the field once more; both HEROes were removed.
"Tch."
Aster's face hardened.
"My Battle Phase is over. Main Phase 2—
I activate Monster Reborn to revive a monster from the GY. I Special Summon 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman'."
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, DEF 600]
"When Bubbleman is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon any number of 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' from my Deck. I Special Summon two more."
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, DEF 600] x2
"I set one and end my turn."
"I see—using Bubbleman to fortify your defense to avoid a blank field next turn," Zane said. "To rebuild after eating that many traps—worthy of thirty straight wins."
Aster scowled and said nothing.
Chthonian Polymer… a trap targeted precisely at his Fusion-centric HERO plays, right at the start.
But in theory, this was his first time publicly running HERO in the pro scene—his opponent shouldn't have intel on his deck. Why such a direct counter?
Just coincidence?
"My turn. Draw."
Zane spoke calmly.
"I activate the Spell 'Card of Adversity'. If your opponent controls Special Summoned monsters and I control no monsters, I draw two cards."
"I Normal Summon 'Cyberdark Edge'."
[Cyberdark Edge, ATK 800]
"Cyberdark Edge's effect: on Normal Summon, equip a Level 4 or lower monster from my GY to it."
Zane drew a card from his GY.
"I equip the monster I Tributed earlier for 'Chthonian Polymer'—
—Infernal Dragon!"