# Chapter 198: The Death of Aster Phoenix (Part 1)
Accompanied by a resounding dragon's roar, multi-colored wings unfurled from a galactic vortex. A great dragon, with nebulae swirling in its eyes, flapped its wings and emerged.
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK: 3000
"I activate the Spell Card, Galaxy Charity!"
"If I control a 'Galaxy' Xyz Monster, I can discard one card from my hand to draw two cards from my deck. For the rest of this turn, all damage my opponent takes is halved."
"Next, since I control a Galaxy monster, I can Normal Summon Galaxy Knight from my hand without a Tribute! Appear, Galaxy Knight!"
"When Galaxy Knight is successfully summoned by its own effect, its other effect activates! By lowering its ATK by 1000, I can target one Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon in my Graveyard and Special Summon it in Defense Position!"
"O galaxy, shining in the darkness, become a light of hope and reside within me! Incarnation of light, descend! Appear, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
A dazzling light shone from the longsword in Galaxy Knight's hand, then condensed into a javelin in Kaito's. With a low growl, Kaito forcefully threw it toward the sky.
The javelin flashed in the air, and dazzling starlight bloomed from within, transforming into the shape of a massive dragon. Roaring, it unfurled wings made of pure light.
Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon DEF: 2500
"I overlay my two Level 8 monsters!"
"O hope flowing through the galaxy, manifest as a dragon and bathe the world in eternal light! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy!"
On the back of Kaito's right hand, the dazzling number 38 lit up. From the golden vortex above his head, a sacred dragon wreathed in light slowly descended.
Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy ATK: 3000
"Next, I use Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon as Overlay Material!" As his voice fell, a card ejected from the Extra Deck of Kaito's Duel Disk.
"O galaxy, shining brightly in the dark of night! Let light be your guide, and bloom into your ultimate form to protect all hope! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 10! Galaxy-Eyes Aurora Wave Dragon!"
A golden river of stars slowly appeared above Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's head. As the holy light sprinkled down from it, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon let out a soft cry and began to evolve.
On Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's originally multi-colored wings, brilliant electric arcs began to dance, and its galaxy-filled eyes grew even more profound.
Galaxy-Eyes Aurora Wave Dragon ATK: 4000
"I activate the effect of Galaxy-Eyes Aurora Wave Dragon! By detaching two of its Overlay Units, my LIGHT monsters cannot be targeted by my opponent's card effects until the end of their turn."
Galaxy-Eyes Aurora Wave Dragon let out a soft cry. A golden light instantly bloomed from between its dazzling wings, enveloping all of Kaito's monsters on the field in a golden shield.
"I set one card and end my turn." Since he couldn't attack, Kaito could only reinforce his defenses this turn. Having done so, Kaito ended his turn.
"Yuya, that most troublesome monster has been dealt with. The rest is up to you," Aster Phoenix said to Yuya upon seeing this.
"Okay, leave it to me." Yuya nodded, drawing the top card from his deck.
"My turn! Draw!"
"At this moment, the effect of Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer in the Graveyard resolves! I Special Summon one 'Destiny HERO' monster from the Graveyard! Be reborn, Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
After Yuya drew his card, a clear phoenix cry rang out from the pillar of fire behind Aster Phoenix, and Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer was reborn from the flames.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer ATK: 2500
"I activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! Once per turn, I can destroy one card on my field and one card on my opponent's field!" As soon as Phoenix Enforcer appeared, Aster Phoenix used its effect again, attempting to clear a path for Yuya's plays.
But Yūga Hōzumi wouldn't have it. He simply waved a hand and declared, "I activate the effect of Lion Hope Ray! Once per turn, since this card is equipped with a Zexal Weapon, I can target one of your monsters! I'll negate its effects and halve its ATK!"
The golden lion phantom behind Lion Hope Ray reappeared. A deafening beast's roar rang out, forcefully suppressing the pillar of fire summoned by Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer ATK: 2500 → 1250
"That's all I can do for you. At least its once-per-turn negation effect is used up," Aster Phoenix said to Yuya.
"That's enough." Yuya nodded at Aster Phoenix. "Leave the rest to me!"
"I set the Pendulum Scale with the Scale 1 Performapal Monkeyboard!" At the start of his turn, Yuya intended to use Monkeyboard to set up his scales with a single card.
"At this moment, I activate the effect of Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy!"
"Once per turn, when a Spell Card's effect is activated on the field, I can negate that effect and attach that Spell Card to this one as an Xyz Material." Kaito, having seen Yuya's duels before, knew how absurd this card was and naturally wouldn't let its effect resolve so easily.
Performapal Monkeyboard's figure had just begun to rise into the pillar of light behind Yuya when Hope Harbinger Dragon roared. The light blooming between its wings transformed into a golden chain, pinning the monkey down before dragging it into the dragon's body. It became a golden orb of light, circling Hope Harbinger Dragon as an Overlay Unit.
"What?! It became an Xyz Material directly?" Yuya was stunned. This effect was a far greater obstacle than simple destruction. After all, if a Pendulum Card was destroyed, its own properties would allow it to be Pendulum Summoned again from the Extra Deck. But being absorbed as material meant it would never go to the Extra Deck at all.
"Then, I activate the Spell Card, Pendulum Call! By discarding one card from my hand, I can add two different 'Magician' Pendulum Monsters from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Nobledragon Magician and Acrobat Magician!" After a moment's thought, Yuya restarted his combo.
"I activate the Spell Card, Spiral Strike Burst! I'll add one 'Odd-Eyes' monster from my Deck to my hand! I choose Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"
"Next, I summon Performapal Poker Witch in Attack Position!"
"I activate the effect of Performapal Poker Witch! Once per turn, by Tributing this card, I can add one 'Fusion' Spell from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand!"
"Aster Phoenix, I'll be borrowing your power now!" After setting up his field, Yuya turned to look at Aster Phoenix beside him.
"If you need it, then use it," Aster Phoenix said with a nod.
"I activate the Spell Card, Fusion!" Seeing Aster Phoenix's nod, Yuya revealed the spell card from his hand with a determined expression.
"I fuse the Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer on my field!"
...
(end of chapter)