# Chapter 197: Clash in the Standby Phase
After Aster Phoenix drew a card, he started his combo.
"I summon D3 in Attack Position!"
"When this card is Normal Summoned, its effect activates! While this card is face-up on the field, it is also treated as a 'Destiny HERO' monster."
A mechanical dog leaped from Aster Phoenix's hand, landing on the field.
"D3's effect activates! I discard up to two cards, then Special Summon an equal number of 'D3s' from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard. After this effect resolves, for the rest of this turn, I cannot Summon or Special Summon monsters, except 'Destiny HERO' monsters."
Aster Phoenix sent a card from his hand to the Graveyard, and a light glowed above the mechanical dog in front of him.
*Is he planning to forcibly gather the materials for Destiny HERO - Plasma?* Yūga Hōzumi thought, then activated the effect of his monster.
"I activate the effect of Beast Armor Combination Utopia Ray - Lion!"
"If this card is equipped with a 'Zexal Weapon' monster, once per turn, I can target one effect monster on my opponent's field; that monster's effects are negated, and its ATK is halved."
Utopia Ray - Lion swung its longsword, and the spectral image of a golden lion emerged behind it. After a majestic roar, the mechanical hound in front of Aster Phoenix immediately dimmed.
"I activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Malicious in my Graveyard! By banishing this card, I can Special Summon another 'Destiny HERO - Malicious' from my Deck!"
Destiny HERO - Malicious DEF: 800
"I set four cards and end my turn."
"Since you can't use Spell Cards, is this defensive posture all you can manage? Unable to use your precious Fusion Summon?" Kaito scoffed before starting his turn.
"My turn! I draw!" Kaito drew a card.
"At this moment, I activate the Continuous Trap, D-Tactics! Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Rapid Trigger!" Just as Kaito drew, Aster Phoenix activated two of his set cards in succession.
"I destroy Fusion Material Monsters I control that are listed on a Fusion Monster, and Fusion Summon that monster from my Extra Deck. A monster Special Summoned by this effect can only attack monsters that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and it's unaffected by the activated effects of other monsters Special Summoned from the Extra Deck."
"I destroy D3, which is treated as a Destiny HERO monster, and Destiny HERO - Malicious! Fusion Summon!"
Aster Phoenix's hands came together at his chest as the two monsters slowly merged behind him.
"Hero's mechanical hound, the hero controlling devilish power, return from the hellfire in a fiery rebirth! Burn this chaotic world to ashes! Fusion Summon! Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
A towering pillar of fire rose behind Aster Phoenix, accompanied by a resounding phoenix cry. A hero wreathed in blazing fire emerged from the flames, standing guard in front of him.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer DEF: 2500
"When a Level 8 or higher 'Destiny HERO' monster is Special Summoned, I can banish one card from my opponent's hand, field, or Graveyard!"
"With this effect, I banish Beast Armor Combination Utopia Ray - Lion from the field!"
"A non-targeting banishment effect? That conveniently bypasses the defensive effects of ZW - Divine Wind Dragon Sword and ZW - Tigris Sword," Yūga Hōzumi mused with a slight frown. "In that case, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Cosmic Cyclone!"
"By paying 1000 Life Points, I banish one card in my opponent's Spell & Trap Zone!"
Yūga Hōzumi/Kaito LP: 4000 → 3000
Two golden comets swirled into a cyclone, sending the Continuous Trap Aster Phoenix had activated straight to another dimension. Since a Continuous Trap must be on the field for its effect to resolve, the dimensional wave heading for Utopia Ray - Lion vanished.
"I activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! I destroy one card I control and one other card on the field." Seeing his plan foiled, Aster Phoenix waved his hand to activate his monster's ability. A phoenix cry echoed as the ground cracked open, with scorching magma threatening to erupt from within.
"I activate the equipped ZW - Pegasus Twin Saber's effect! While this card is equipped to a monster, once per turn, I can negate the effect of a monster on the field!"
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Cosmic Cyclone! I pay 1000 Life Points to banish one card from the Spell and Trap Zone!"
Aster Phoenix/Yuya LP: 4000 → 3000
Just as the ZW - Pegasus Twin Saber equipped to Utopia Ray - Lion began to glow, one of Aster Phoenix's set cards flipped open. It was, surprisingly, the same card Yūga Hōzumi had used. Two golden comets swirled and banished the Equip Spell to another dimension.
With its protection gone, a towering pillar of fire erupted from the ground, engulfing both Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer itself and Number 16: Shock Master.
"When Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer is destroyed, its effect activates! During the Standby Phase of the next turn, I can Special Summon one 'Destiny HERO' monster from my Graveyard."
Aster Phoenix wiped the sweat from his forehead. Behind him, a pillar of fire burst from the ground, a faint phoenix cry echoing from within.
At that moment, the Standby Phase of the turn finally ended.
Seeing his Number 16: Shock Master destroyed nonetheless, Yūga Hōzumi said, "So you chose to destroy it during the Standby Phase at all costs, just because its effect can only be used during the Main Phase?"
"But in doing so, you've left yourself with only one set card," Kaito stated coldly.
"I activate the Spell Card, Galaxy Cyclone! I target one set Spell or Trap Card on the field and destroy it." Kaito revealed a card, his expression frigid.
The light of the galaxy shone, transforming into a fierce wind that swept towards Aster Phoenix's last set card.
"I activate the Trap Card, Threatening Roar! This turn, my opponent cannot declare an attack."
A golden wave pulsed from the trap Aster Phoenix activated, sweeping across the entire field.
As soon as this card activated, both Yūga Hōzumi and Kaito frowned. An effect that directly prevented them from attacking would allow Aster's team to survive the turn, especially since Kaito's deck had pitifully few cards that could inflict effect damage.
"I activate the effect of Galaxy Knight from my hand! By revealing one 'Photon' monster in my hand, I can Special Summon this card, and its Level becomes the same as the revealed monster's."
"I reveal Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my hand! This card's Level becomes 8, and I Special Summon it!"
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, Galaxy Expedition!"
"Since I control a Level 5 or higher 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' monster, I can Special Summon another one from my Deck in Defense Position."
"Appear! Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon!"
"I overlay my two Level 8 monsters!"
Kaito reached out, conjuring a radiant galaxy vortex from which a resonant dragon's roar echoed.
"O galaxy, shining brilliantly in the darkness! Dwell within the vengeful fiend and become my servant! Xyz Summon! Descend! Rank 8! Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
...
(end of chapter)