Chapter 353

Aster's hand size is 5.

Looking at that, plus the spirit image appearing around him, he must have drawn Plasma-D.

Tiancheng Guang pondered from the side.

Plasma-D...

The "Ultimate D" from the original work, possessing the status of a Phantom God, was the initial vessel for the Light of Destruction. But this card had a notoriously ridiculous performance in the anime: after Aster obtained it, he never won a single serious duel.

Not only that, but the previous owners of Plasma-D also only knew the path of defeat when using this card.

If Aster breaking his own fate and challenging the fate of destroying the world was his own "rebellion" against destiny, then in Tiancheng Guang's view, Aster using Plasma-D to duel Sartorius—a duel that was destined to be lost in the original work—was the true...

Duel of Fate.

Aster was thinking the same thing.

The effect of The World was simply too powerful; if he didn't find a way to deal with The World this turn, even a simple attack could easily finish him off.

Therefore, even if he had to exhaust all his resources, he had to deal with The World this turn.

He gritted his teeth.

Diamond Dude's effect of predicting the future was extremely powerful; generally speaking, no one could stop Diamond Dude unless they had a card like Tiancheng Guang's "Thunder Dragon Colossus," which could stop or restrict the effects of cards sent to the Graveyard. Otherwise, no monster had the ability to overcome Diamond Dude's effect.

However, as it happened, The World was exactly that type of card!

So...

"I Normal Summon Destiny HERO - Drilldark."

Similar to Diamond Dude, Drilldark was a hero embedded with drills all over his body.

Destiny HERO - Drilldark, Level 4, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1600.

"Hmph... Can you coordinate with your fellow heroes?"

"That's right, Sartorius! Drilldark's effect: activated when this card is Summoned or Special Summoned successfully. Special Summon 1 Destiny HERO from your hand with lower ATK than this card.

I will Special Summon Destiny HERO - Double Dude."

Double Dude appeared as a cowboy in a suit, his right hand in a pistol gesture, firing a laser in the shape of a "D."

Destiny HERO - Double Dude, Level 4, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1600.

"Activated when Double Dude is successfully Special Summoned by a hero's effect. Both players draw 1 card from their decks."

Sartorius and Aster simultaneously placed their hands on their decks and drew.

Subsequently, both looked at the cards they had drawn.

Good!

Both reacted in their hearts at the same time.

The card Aster drew was 【D-Spirit】, a card that could Special Summon a Destiny HERO from the deck. Using this, he could gather the number of Tributes required for Plasma-D!

"I activate the Spell Card, D-Spirit!" Aster immediately activated the card: "Target 1 【Destiny HERO】 in your Graveyard! Special Summon 1 Destiny HERO from your deck with a Level less than or equal to half the Level of that monster. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase of this turn!"

Aster's Graveyard emitted a warm golden light: "The one I choose is the Level 8 Destiny HERO - Dystopia in my Graveyard!"

"Dystopia's Level is 8, so I can Special Summon a Destiny HERO of Level 4 or lower from my deck!"

Aster opened his deck, searched through it, and selected one: "I choose Destiny HERO - Dreamer!"

A comical hero, looking like a clown, jumped onto Aster's field.

Destiny HERO - Dreamer, Level 1, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 0.

"Three monsters..."

Sartorius looked at this setup, his expression becoming slightly serious for a moment.

"Sartorius—"

"I will release the three monsters on the field as Tributes—"

Bang bang bang!

An astonishing blood-red color erupted from the three monsters, the blood turning into pillars of blood that shot into the sky.

"Human fate should be mastered by oneself; whether it be gods or demons, no one can control the human will!"

"My fate, human fate, should be dominated by humans—"

"Descend, Ultimate D!"

"My fate!"

"Level 8, Destiny HERO - Plasma-D!!"

The pillars of blood intertwined, then slowly erupted. After a series of thumping sounds, a warrior resembling a demon slowly spread its broken wings and descended before Aster.

Destiny HERO - Plasma-D, Level 8, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1900.

"Plasma-D, indeed, this monster was once the host for the Light of Destruction, possessing powerful strength beyond ordinary monsters.

However—" Sartorius pointed at Aster, "If you want to exert Plasma-D's greatest power, you must activate D-Force!

If you do that, you will lose the qualification to draw cards, which means... abandoning the 【Future】."

Sartorius tapped his forehead lightly and spoke slowly: "Wake up, Aster..."

"Sartorius, look at your field again."

?

Sartorius looked beside him.

His eyes widened.

The World on his field had turned gray, as if it had lost all its power!

What!?

"This, how is this possible, impossible!!"

"This is the true Plasma-D, Sartorius!" Aster shouted loudly, "This is the true power of Plasma-D, freed from the influence of the Light of Destruction and completely liberated!"

Wow—

Tiancheng Guang couldn't help but lean back from the side.

"The current Plasma-D doesn't need D-Force to negate the monster effects of all monsters on your field!" Aster revealed a confident smile on his face. He turned to look at Tiancheng Guang and nodded at him.

This was exactly what he had realized after losing to Tiancheng Guang and talking to his father's soul.

The previous Plasma-D was just a card infected by the Light of Destruction; his father never truly wanted to create a card like that!

For the past two days, he had tried his best and suffered many injuries just to awaken the true Plasma-D and gain its recognition. And now, he was going to use Plasma-D's power to defeat Sartorius!

Just like what Tiancheng Guang had made him understand during their duel!

Fate should be 【Chosen】 by oneself!!

"Tsk..."

"Plasma-D has lost the ability to devour other monsters' effects due to the Light of Destruction, but it can still devour your 【The World】 to gain ATK!"

"Go, Plasma-D!!"

Plasma-D jumped in front of The World and spread its wings. Although the mechanical angel desperately wanted to escape, it was dragged and merged into Plasma-D's body.

"Plasma-D gains half the ATK of the devoured monster!"

Plasma-D, ATK: 1900 → 3450.

"Actually..." Sartorius looked at Plasma-D with a gloomy expression.

Compared to the monster being devoured by Plasma-D, and compared to Plasma-D's ATK even exceeding The World, what Sartorius was more surprised by was...

Plasma-D didn't need "D-Force" to seal the opponent's monster effects and could exert its "full power"!

Not needing D-Force meant Aster could continue to draw cards next turn, meaning... Aster's "Future" was no longer 【Determined】 at all!

To Sartorius, this was even more surprising and... unbelievable than losing the duel.

"Sartorius, take this direct attack!"

Because he had dealt 1600 points of damage with Dystopia's effect earlier, even though Sartorius had recovered 500 Life Points, he only had 2900 left. As long as Plasma-D's attack succeeded, it would be over!

Plasma-D gathered its power and flew into the air. Blood rain descended from its wings, like a rain of blades, stabbing straight toward Sartorius.

Boom boom—

Countless explosions roared, and smoke and dust filled the magnificent tower with a foul stench.

"How is it, Sartorius? With this, you should be able to... What!?"

Sartorius LP: 2900.

"Why?" Aster's eyes widened. The scene before him left him completely baffled.

"Heh heh heh... Hahahaha, Aster, I am truly happy for you...

However—fate was already decided when you Summoned your monster!!

Aster, the card I drew this turn because of Double Dude's effect is!

The 14th card of the Major Arcana, Temperance!!"

Aster's pupils slowly contracted.

"By discarding this card from my hand, I can make 1 instance of battle damage become 0!!"

(End of chapter)