# Chapter 90: Hope's 3-Piece Set
The black and white Hope Ray slowly emerged from the Stardust Vortex. Then, accompanied by an inherently fearsome roar, a golden, glowing mechanical lion leaped up from behind Hope Ray, transforming into armor that clicked and clacked as it fitted onto Hope Ray's own. In the blink of an eye, the fully armed Hope Ray gained a wild, untamed aura.
Leo-Armed Hope Ray ATK: 2500
"Next, due to the effect of Rank-Up-Magic Zexal Force! I place ZW - Tigris Sword on top of my Deck!"
"At this moment, the effect of Xyz Change Tactics activates! When a 'Hope' monster is Xyz Summoned to my field, I pay 500 LP to draw one card from my deck."
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 2400 → 1900
"Then, the effect of Rank-Up-Magic Zexal Force in my Graveyard activates! Since my LP is at least 2000 lower than my opponent's, I can banish this card from the Graveyard to draw one card."
"The effect of Leo-Armed Hope Ray activates! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can choose one 'Zexal Weapon' monster from my Deck or Extra Deck and equip it to this card."
"I equip this card with ZW - Pegasus Twin Saber!"
The golden orb of light swirling around Leo-Armed Hope Ray transformed into a pure-white, twin-winged Pegasus, which became a longsword and landed in Leo-Armed Hope Ray's hand.
Leo-Armed Hope Ray ATK: 2500 → 3500
"Next, I activate the effects of ZW - Wind God Cloud Dragon Sword and ZW - Tigris Sword in my hand! I equip both to Leo-Armed Hope Ray, increasing its ATK by 1300 and 1200 respectively!"
Accompanied by the roars of a dragon and a tiger, the Cloud Dragon and White Tiger flew from Yūga Hōzumi's hand, transforming into longswords that hovered beside Leo-Armed Hope Ray. The triple-equipped Hope's aura surged.
Leo-Armed Hope Ray ATK: 3500 → 4700 → 6000
"Battle! Leo-Armed Hope Ray, attack the face-down monster!" Yūga Hōzumi waved his hand, and the fully armed Hope Ray lunged forward, striking with its sword. The face-down monster was revealed to be the notorious Destiny HERO - Plasma, but before it could even react, it was cut down in a single blow.
"I set two cards and end my turn." After finishing off Plasma, Yūga Hōzumi set his cards and ended his turn.
"My turn! Draw!" It was Aster Phoenix's turn. After he drew, the phantom image of an iron warrior on roller skates flashed beside him.
"Once, while Destiny HERO - Dasher is in my Graveyard, if I draw a monster during my Draw Phase, I can reveal it and Special Summon it."
"The monster I drew is Elemental HERO Stratos! I Special Summon him!"
"The effect of Elemental HERO Stratos activates! When this card is Special Summoned, I can destroy Spells and Traps on the field up to the number of other 'HERO' monsters I control."
"Besides Elemental HERO Stratos, I also have one other 'HERO' monster on my field, Destiny HERO - Dystopia. Therefore, I can destroy one of your Spell or Trap Cards!"
The turbine wings on Stratos's back began to spin, gathering a gale-force wind.
"At this moment, the effect of Gogogo Golem - Golden Form activates! Once per turn, when my opponent activates a monster effect, this card loses 1500 ATK to negate that effect."
Gogogo Golem - Golden Form ATK: 1500 → 0
The golden surface of the Gogogo Golem on Yūga Hōzumi's field flashed, and Stratos's spinning turbine wings ground to an abrupt halt.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer would be out soon, and this card's ATK wouldn't be high enough to pay the 1500 cost for its effect then. Therefore, Yūga Hōzumi simply used the negation on Stratos.
The exchange during the Draw Phase passed, and roiling magma suddenly erupted from the ground, shooting toward the sky.
"During the Standby Phase, the effect of Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer resolves, reviving a 'Destiny HERO' from the Graveyard! Return, Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
The flames gradually receded, and Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, wreathed in fire, was reborn from the ashes.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer ATK: 2500
"At this moment, the Continuous Trap, D-Tactics, activates! When a Level 8 or higher 'Destiny HERO' monster is Special Summoned to my field, I can banish one card from your hand, field, or Graveyard."
"At this moment, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Mystical Space Typhoon! I'll target your D-Tactics and destroy it!"
Aster Phoenix's Continuous Trap in the backrow had just begun to gather energy, intending to send Hope away, when Yūga Hōzumi's face-down card flipped open. A gale swept forth, shattering the trap.
The move failed, but Aster Phoenix's expression remained unchanged. This was within his expectations; the opponent before him was not someone who could be defeated by one or two cards.
"When D-Tactics is destroyed by a card effect, I can add one 'Destiny HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand."
"I add Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude to my hand!"
"I Summon Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude in Attack Position!"
"The effect of Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude activates! Once per turn, I reveal the top card of my Deck. If it's a Normal Spell, I send it to the Graveyard. Otherwise, it goes to the bottom of the Deck. During my next Main Phase, I can activate the effect of a Normal Spell sent to the Graveyard this way."
Aster Phoenix slowly revealed the card. "The card I revealed is the Normal Spell, Destiny Draw!"
Yūga Hōzumi: "..."
*Seriously impressive. He got his hands on Destiny HERO - Plasma and even learned the sticky Diamond Dude and Destiny Draw combo, huh?*
"At this moment, the effect of Destiny HERO - Celestial in the Graveyard activates!"
"When I have no cards in my hand, I can banish this card and another 'Destiny HERO' monster from my Graveyard to draw two cards."
"I banish Destiny HERO - Celestial and Destiny HERO - Dasher from my Graveyard to draw two cards!"
"I activate the Spell Card, Doctor D!" After replenishing his hand, Aster Phoenix revealed a Spell Card.
"I banish one 'Destiny HERO' monster from my Graveyard to either add to my hand or Special Summon another 'Destiny HERO' from my Graveyard."
"I banish Destiny HERO - Denier from my Graveyard and Special Summon Destiny HERO - Disk Man from my Graveyard!"
"The effect of Destiny HERO - Disk Man activates when it's Special Summoned from the Graveyard! I draw two cards!"
"At this moment, the effect of the equipped ZW - Pegasus Twin Saber activates! Once per turn, I can negate the effect of a monster my opponent activates on the field."
The Pegasus longsword in Leo-Armed Hope Ray's hand flashed with silver light, and the spinning disc on Disk Man's body instantly ground to a halt.
...
(end of chapter)