Chapter 148

"The... World?"

Looking at the monster that had suddenly appeared before him, Aster looked bewildered.

Arcana Force XXI - The World, Level 8, Light Attribute, Fairy-Type, ATK 3100.

The card image of The World appeared on Aster's field and began to spin.

"Naturally—the upright position!"

Sartorius laughed heartily.

"And now... I activate the Normal Spell Card, Owner's Seal!"

Sartorius laughed loudly as he revealed the Spell Card in his hand: "All monsters on the field return to their original owner's field! Come back, The World!"

The World spun around and flew back to Sartorius's field.

"It's not over yet. I activate the Spell Card, Destiny's Choice! Aster, you must choose one card from my hand. If it's a monster, that card will be Special Summoned!"

"The one on the right."

"Heh... a monster card, Arcana Force VI - The Lovers!"

Arcana Force VI - The Lovers, Level 4, Light Attribute, Fairy-Type, ATK 1600.

"With this, Aster, take my attack!" Sartorius laughed uproariously. "Battle—"

"The World attacks Aster directly!"

"At this instant, I activate my Trap Card! D-Fortune!" Aster decisively flipped his face-down card. "I activate this when the opponent declares a direct attack. By banishing one Destiny HERO from my Graveyard, the Battle Phase ends."

"I banish Diamond Dude from my Graveyard!"

The World's attack stopped, and it slowly flew back to Sartorius's field.

"Heh heh, you've cheated death, Aster."

Aster calmly wiped the sweat from his brow.

In order to gain the recognition of Plasma-D, he had spent the last two days in a prolonged "struggle" with the cards; his body was already in poor shape, and his stamina was running low.

But as long as he didn't take a direct hit, he should be fine!

He was a professional duelist; even with the help of supernatural powers, Sartorius was still far behind a duelist like himself who had fought across many dimensions.

"However, Aster, don't think it's over just yet!"

"The World is a powerful card capable of ruling the world! It is a monster that can control time and the future!!"

"The World's monster effect! When this card is in the upright position, at the end of the turn, I can Tribute two monsters on the field to skip the opponent's turn!"

"What!?" Aster's eyes widened in disbelief, doubting his own ears.

How could there be such a powerful monster effect!?

This is bad—

If his turn is skipped, the effect of his "Destiny Draw" will be missed!

He had lost the chance to draw two cards.

And—even more dangerously, he hadn't done anything, and it was already Sartorius's turn... he hadn't even drawn a card!

"I release The Hierophant and The Lovers to skip your turn!"

"It's my turn again, draw!" Sartorius drew a card with great delight, while Aster could only grit his teeth and watch the scene unfold.

"I activate the Spell Card, Coin A."

Coin A began to spin, and a moment later...

"Naturally, it's the upright position!" Sartorius didn't waste words. "The effect of Coin A in the upright position: draw one card and gain 500 Life Points!"

Sartorius LP: 2400 → 2900.

Sartorius drew a card and glanced at it: "Heh heh heh heh... Spell Card, Cup of Ace."

"Ugh..."

"Upright, I draw two cards; reversed, you draw two cards—but, of course, it's the upright position!"

Watching Sartorius shamelessly do whatever he pleased, Aster gritted his teeth, looking somewhat agitated.

"Aster! Don't panic!" Tenjou Hikari cheered him on from the side. "There is still a Battle Phase this turn! You must stay calm!"

Hearing Tenjou Hikari's words, Aster took a deep breath.

That's right.

This turn, Sartorius could still attack!

Sartorius examined the card he had just drawn and couldn't help but grin: "With this, you're finished, Aster!"

"Entering the Battle Phase again, The World, attack Aster directly!"

"Transcendence Disaster!!"

The World raised its left and right claws, reaching toward Aster.

"Uwah—"

Aster was struck by the claws and sent flying, bouncing twice on the ground. He nearly flew off the long bridge, but he caught the edge just in time and didn't fall off.

Aster, LP: 4000 → 900.

"Aster!?" Tenjou Hikari called out to him and ran toward him.

Aster gripped the edge of the wall, coughed, and forced himself to say, "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

A pair of wings sprouted beside Aster, lifting him upward. Just then, he noticed someone above reaching out a hand to pull him up. He struggled to reach for that hand, and then he felt a warm touch.

He was pulled up by that strength, only to see another Sartorius struggling to pull him up.

Sartorius?!

He was pulled up by that force and stood on the floor.

This...

As expected.

Aster took a deep breath.

The voice of Sartorius he had heard that day was not a hallucination; he was still helping him.

The Sartorius before him was the one completely eroded by the Light of Ruin—just like he had been before.

He clenched his fists.

Just as Department Head Tenjou Hikari had helped him overcome destiny.

He, too, would guide and liberate his friend's soul and awaken the real him.

He wiped the dust from his face, his eyes becoming bright and piercing, as if he had an endless supply of strength.

"Have you recovered? Heh..." Sartorius looked at Aster, who was standing before him again, and laughed in a low voice. "However, what you are about to face is an even more dangerous fate!"

"Since that's the case, why not give up? Aster."

"I will prove to you that destiny is never unchangeable!" Although his field was empty, Aster was not afraid in the slightest, staring directly at his opponent.

"A magnificent spirit." Sartorius didn't mind at all.

"I set one card face-down and end my turn!"

Aster took a deep breath.

The World really is a powerful monster!

He absolutely could not let a monster of this caliber remain on the field; otherwise, if it were always Sartorius's turn, he would definitely lose!

"My turn, draw!"

He looked at the card he had drawn and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Pot of Greed!

Good!

Although Destiny Draw could not be used because of The World, luck was still on his side.

"I activate the Spell Card, Pot of Greed! I draw two cards from my Deck."

He placed his hand on top of his Deck. At that moment, Tenjou Hikari blinked slightly.

In his eyes, it seemed as if another figure was beside Aster, drawing the card with him.

This scene was also seen by Sartorius, causing the man who held all the advantages to involuntarily take half a step back.

"Draw!!"

Aster drew two cards with all his might. As he drew, a thick scent of blood appeared in this massive white tower, staining the pristine structure a deep red.

Aster's pupils contracted as he looked at one of the cards.

Plasma-D!

As expected, you are angry too!

Angry that an evil presence is wantonly controlling you!

Let us defeat it together!