Ed's hand has 5 cards.
Judging by the look, along with the apparition of the Spirit around him, he probably drew Plasma, right?
Tenjo Hikari pondered on the side.
Plasma...
The "Ultimate D" from the original work held an Egyptian God-level status, the initial vessel of Wave of Light, but the card had a rather abysmal performance in the anime. Once Ed had it, he never won a proper duel again.
Moreover, the previous owners of Plasma also had only one outcome — loss, whenever they used this card.
If Ed overcoming his destiny and challenging the world's destructive fate could be seen as his own "rebellion" against destiny, then in Tenjo Hikari's eyes, Ed using Plasma to duel Saiou, this duel in which he was destined to lose in the original work, was truly...
A duel of destiny.
Ed was thinking as well.
The World's effect was simply too powerful. If he didn't find a way to deal with The World this turn, even just an attack could easily finish him off.
So, even if he had to exhaust his resources, he must resolve to deal with The World this turn.
He gritted his teeth.
Drilldark's effect of predicting the future is extremely powerful. Usually, nobody can stop Drilldark unless they have a card like Tenjo Hikari's Thunder Dragon Colossus to prevent or limit the effects of cards sent from Drilldark to the graveyard. Otherwise, no monster could counter Drilldark's effect.
But, just coincidentally, The World happens to be the type of card that could!
So...
"I Normal Summon Destiny Hero - Drilldark."
Similar to Drilldark, Drawhand is a hero adorned with drills all over his body.
Destiny Hero - Drilldark, LV 4, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1600.
"Heh... Can you team up with your comrade heroes?"
"That's right, Saiou! Drilldark's effect activates upon this card's successful Summon·Special Summon. One Destiny Hero with lower ATK than this card is Special Summoned from the hand.
I will Special Summon Destiny Hero - Drawhand."
Drawhand resembles a gunslinger wearing a suit, his right hand pretends to fire a gun, shooting out a laser the shape of a 'D'.
Destiny Hero - Drawhand, LV 4, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1600.
"When Drawhand is Special Summoned by a Hero's effect, both players draw 1 card from their deck."
Saiou and Ed both placed their cards on their decks, drawing a new card.
Next, they looked at the cards they drew.
Nice!
They both reacted simultaneously in their minds.
The card Ed drew was Over Destiny, a card that could Special Summon a Destiny Hero from the deck, allowing him to gather the number of sacrifices needed for Plasma!
"I activate the Spell Card, Over Destiny!" Ed immediately played the card: "Target 1 Destiny Hero in your graveyard and Special Summon 1 Destiny Hero from your deck with an original Level that is half or less than that monster's. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase."
A warm golden light radiates from Ed's graveyard: "The one I choose is the LV 8 Destiny Hero - Dystopia in the graveyard!"
"Dystopia's level is 8; this allows me to Special Summon a Destiny Hero of LV 4 or lower from the deck!"
Ed opens his deck, searching and selecting a card: "I choose Destiny Hero - Dreamer!"
A comical hero resembling a clown bounces onto Ed's field.
Destiny Hero - Dreamer, LV 1, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 0.
"Three monsters..."
Saiou looked at the setup, his expression slightly serious for a moment.
"Saiou——"
"I will tribute these three monsters on the field——"
Bam bam bam!
The monsters' figures burst with incredible crimson light, the blood transforming into pillars reaching the heavens.
"Human fate should be controlled by humans themselves. Be it gods or demons, no one can dictate the will of humans!"
"My fate, human fate, should be ruled by mankind——"
"Descend, Ultimate D!"
"My fate!"
"LV 8, Destiny Hero - Plasma!!"
The blood pillars intertwined, then slowly exploded. In a burst of sounds, a warrior akin to a demon slowly opened shattered wings, descending before Ed.
Destiny Hero - Plasma, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1900.
"Plasma, indeed, this monster once served as the host for Wave of Light, possessing powers beyond ordinary monsters.
However——" Saiou pointed at Ed, "To unleash Plasma's full power, you need to activate D - Force!
This way, you'd lose the privilege to draw cards, which means... giving up the 'future'."
Saiou tapped his forehead lightly, speaking slowly: "Wake up, Ed..."
"Saiou, look at your field again."
?
Saiou looked around.
His eyes widened.
The World on his field had turned gray, seemingly stripped of power!
What!?
"This, this is impossible, impossible!!"
"This is the true Plasma, Saiou!" Ed shouted, "This is Plasma that has broken free from Wave of Light's influence, truly liberated!"
Wow——
Tenjo Hikari couldn't help but lean back in amazement.
"Plasma now doesn't need D - Force to negate all monster effects on your field!" Ed confidently smiled. Turning to Tenjo Hikari, he nodded.
This was what he realized after his defeat to Tenjo Hikari and conversing with his father's spirit.
The previous Plasma was merely a card tainted by Wave of Light; his father wished to create something entirely different!
These past days, Ed has fought tooth and nail, enduring such injuries just to awaken the true Plasma, to gain its recognition, and now, he intends to defeat Saiou with this power!
Just as Tenjo Hikari made him realize during the duel!
Destiny should be a matter of one's own [choice]!!
"Tsk..."
"Plasma has lost the ability to neutralize other monster effects that Wave of Light provided, but still, it can absorb your [World] for attack power!"
"Go, Plasma!!"
Plasma leapt in front of The World, spreading its wings. Despite the Machine Angel's desperate attempt to flee, it was forcibly torn apart, merging into Plasma's body.
"Plasma absorbs half the attack power of the monster it consumes!"
Plasma, ATK: 1900→3450.
"How could..." Saiou grimly watched Plasma.
More than having his monster devoured by Plasma, more than even Plasma's attack surpassing The World's statistics, what truly shocked Saiou was...
Plasma could seal the opponent's monster effects and unleash its "full power" without D - Force!
Without D - Force means Ed can continue drawing cards next turn, meaning... Ed's "future" was no longer [decided]!
To Saiou, this was far more unexpected and unbelievable than losing the duel.
"Saiou, take this direct attack!"
Due to having inflicted 1600 damage with Dystopia's effect earlier, even if Saiou recovered 500 Life Points, he only had 2900 left; just one successful attack from Plasma, and it would be over!
Plasma gathered power, soared into the sky, and with blood rain descending from its wings like daggers, directly pierced towards Saiou.
Boom boom——
Countless explosive roars echoed, smoke and dust engulfing the glorious tower.
"How is it, Saiou, now, you should be able to... What!?"
Saiou LP: 2900.
"Why?" Ed widened his eyes. The scene before him left him utterly perplexed.
"Heh heh heh... Hahaha, Ed, I am truly happy for you...
But—— Destiny had already been decided at the moment you summoned your monster!!
Ed, this turn, thanks to Drawhand's effect, the card I drew was!
The 14th card of the Major Arcana, Temperance!!"
Ed's pupils slowly contracted.
"Discarding this from the hand turns battle damage into 0!!"