Chapter 598

This was not the second time Aster and Amon had met.

When he left the dimension of the Forgotten last time, Aster had already had this premonition.

Because Saiou told him that he might encounter another opportunity in the dimension of the Forgotten that would make him stronger.

At the time, he thought it was Tiancheng Guang whom he met here, but to his surprise, when he was preparing to leave, what he felt was a different scene.

Amon Garam.

This man gave him a strange feeling.

After finishing his own business, Aster arrived at Duel Academy, preparing to fulfill his promise to Tiancheng Guang to study properly and strengthen himself. The professors here seemed quite talented, so in the first few days, he was not too worried about the outside blockade or the spirit attacks.

Until, every day, the spirits' offensive seemed to become stronger, and that pitch-black power became increasingly severe; he could no longer study here with the mindset of entertainment or vacation.

He left the main area of Duel Academy and explored the most dangerous regions, looking for all potentially hidden dangers.

It was during this exploration in the distance that he was fortunate enough to save some students in remote areas, and thus sent them to the Duel Academy infirmary.

There, he saw Amon again.

At that time, Amon was completely different from the Amon he saw in the dimension of the Forgotten; he no longer had his usual indifference, but instead anxiously and nervously helped the teachers treat the students' wounds. Even though it was the students of this school he didn't know who were injured, he acted as if he were the one being injured and bleeding.

At that moment, he understood that the information he had investigated regarding Amon was definitely not a disguise by Amon or the Garam Corporation.

Just as he said last time in the dimension of the Forgotten, Amon truly wanted to create a world where everyone is equal and there is no harm.

"Amon, during this time, I have seen you help the teachers save students. I know you are not a person who would harm others. Now that everything hasn't started yet, it's not too late to stop."

Aster drew a card, looked at Amon, and said earnestly.

Hearing Aster's words, Amon calmly adjusted his glasses.

Just as Aster had been observing him, he had also seen Aster many times during this period. This professional duelist, who like him was not a student of this school and perhaps hadn't attended many classes, was adventuring every day on the outermost perimeter for the sake of some students he might not even know, looking for possibilities and rescuing students in crisis.

Just based on this performance, he was worthy of his reputation in the world and deserved to be viewed as an idol by so many young boys and girls.

He acknowledged the efforts of Aster and the others, but...

Nowadays, the school's medical resources have completely collapsed, and there is simply no way to support the teachers in accommodating and treating all the unconscious students.

If this continues, can they really hold on?

Those students with the poorest spirit power have already fallen into a coma, and there are others who were also attacked while protecting their classmates in the process and eventually fell into a coma. As time passes, the students' conditions will only get worse.

When even people of his and Aster's level fall into a coma, who else can protect this school?

Rather than waiting for death silently like this, he believed it was better to fight to the death; it was better than dueling with absolutely no hope like this.

"Then, do you have any other methods?" Amon retorted, "If you had a way, you wouldn't be here blocking me, but would be seizing the time to deal with it, right?"

On the side, Echo was completely confused. She had no idea what had happened at all, and then asked hurriedly.

Subsequently, she learned from Amon's calm words that the Duel Academy island was sealed and completely unable to contact the outside world. Hearing this, she looked at the people inside in disbelief—in her impression, Duel Academy was clearly fine; she had even seen the news a few days ago saying it was thriving and so on.

"It seems that the outside world's consciousness has been tampered with. No wonder there hasn't been any rescue outside the 【Outer Wall】 for so long." Amon calmly adjusted his glasses, lowered his head slightly, and the reflection of his glasses seemed to be scrutinizing Aster, "Under these circumstances, do you have any other methods?"

Aster clenched his fist lightly and said, "I believe there will be... Department Head Tiancheng will definitely find a way."

Amon looked at Tiancheng Guang and was silent for a long time.

He did hear today that Tiancheng Guang and the others seemed to have found some special clues.

But he...

Can those students wait until that time?

Seeing that he had no reaction, Aster knew that he had not been persuaded by him.

"Then, it really is going to be a duel." Aster placed his hand on the Duel Disk, "Then, let's see just how strong your so-called 【Absolute Power】 is. If... even I cannot defeat that kind of power, how could it possibly face the darkness looming over our heads?"

"My turn. Draw a card." Back to the present.

He drew the card from his deck into his hand, then looked down at it and played it directly: "Normal Summon, Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude."

If Jūdai's "Soul Card" is Bubbleman, then Aster's "Soul Card" is this Diamond Dude.

Diamond Dude, embedded with diamonds all over his body, appeared calmly and looked into the distance at his opponent.

"Diamond Dude's effect is to reveal the top card of the deck. If that card is a Spell Card, send it to the Graveyard; if not, return it to the bottom of the deck.

If this effect sends a Spell Card to the Graveyard, I can activate the effect of that card during my next Main Phase."

"A contest of luck? But, how could it be a Normal Spell Card so easily?" Amon said calmly.

"But—at this very moment, isn't our duel exactly like this?"

As he spoke, that massive resentment that once surrounded the dimension of the Forgotten began to emerge in the air again.

Amon looked up at the sky, where a huge gate, tightly sealed by iron chains, slowly descended.

"If I haven't guessed wrong, by now, you already have at least 3 to 4 parts of Exodia in your hand, right?" Aster raised his hand, not going to reveal the top card of the deck, but asking instead.

Amon frowned slightly and looked at the 4 parts of Exodia in his hand.

With his understanding and control of his deck, he dared to guarantee that his next draw would definitely be that card—Exodia the Forbidden One.

Therefore, as long as Aster didn't defeat him in one turn, then next turn, he would be able to draw that card and achieve victory.

"But... destiny tells me that it doesn't seem to be like that."

"Destiny? I don't believe in destiny."

"I didn't believe in it either, but... it was destiny that reunited you and me here." Aster placed his finger lightly on the top card of his deck, "I think destiny must also be telling me to do some things that I should do.

Come on, let's confirm this card—"

He drew it with a swish—

Normal Spell Card, Destiny Draw!

"Diamond Dude's effect, send this card to the Graveyard, and next turn, use the effect of this card directly!"

Diamond Dude raised his hand, and a Spell Card was sealed within a diamond, then slowly floated beside Aster.

"Wow... this person is also so amazing?"

The new spirits of the Underworld of Mo Wang watched the two duelists' operations and felt that each one was completely different from the "duels" in their impression.

"Heh." Amon looked at this scene and sighed softly again.

Clearly, Aster was just as he imagined, like him, someone with extremely strong ability who could be certain that the cards he drew would definitely be cards he could use.

It's just that, even so, it couldn't change anything.

Proving that one has the same ability as oneself is not something amazing.

Many duelists can predict the direction of a duel.

In this world, many duelists can make preparations, set Trap Cards on the turn they should, and then use Trap Cards that can just happen to defend against the next turn's offensive. This is not a rare ability; for excellent duelists, this is 【a matter of course】!

A true duelist can control the direction of a duel—

However!

Duelists' abilities might be similar or even identical.

But the 【cards】 are different. Exodia the Forbidden One is the genuine 【strongest】 monster. As long as you gather all 5 different parts of Exodia the Forbidden One, you can achieve victory directly.

If Air Circulation Machine is destroyed by battle, I can draw a card from the deck directly.

That is to say, as long as my next card is Exodia the Forbidden One, then even if Aster Phoenix has the ability to kill in one turn, at the very moment of the attack, I will have 【won】!

"Duelists' abilities can be similar or identical, but duelists' cards are different!" Aster looked straight at Amon, his tone firm, "Just like different people facing a crisis will make different reactions.

In this situation where darkness descends... the choice I made is this!"

He inserted a card into the Spell & Trap Zone: "Fusion!"

Fusion!?

Amon's pupils contracted slightly.

The card that symbolizes the highest 【pride】 of the Duel Academy main branch—Fusion!

The pride of Duel Academy, the chief of the Duel Academy main branch, the first chief of Duel Academy, the GX tournament champion, the genius among geniuses, the absolute Fusion user...

The card cherished by Tiancheng Guang—Fusion!

When Duel Academy fell into crisis, when Duel Academy students were attacked, when people in Duel Academy fell into a coma, only the Fusion Department had always firmly and strongly supported and believed in the school, believed in their Department Head, and believed that they could overcome this difficulty.

This is the 【confidence】 and 【hope】 brought by Tiancheng Guang of the Fusion Department.

"Fusion, huh..." Amon gradually understood.

So that's it, Aster Phoenix is also a member of the Fusion Department, probably one of the excellent new students, right?

He looked at Tiancheng Guang.

Fusion, huh—

Can gathering everyone's power defeat that unknown existence?

He asked curiously: "Fusion, is it—are you trying to use Dystopia to achieve victory in one go?"

Aster glanced at his hand.

He didn't have a card in his hand that could change Dystopia's ATK and then destroy the opponent's monster to attack directly and achieve victory.

Therefore—

"No, what I want to show is the brand-new card I created after 【understanding】 destiny!"

"The Fusion conditions are..."

"Three Destiny HERO monsters!"

"I fuse Destiny HERO - Disk Commander, Destiny HERO - Departed, and Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude on the field!"

Three?

Amon watched his opponent's operation quietly.

Tiancheng Guang's eyes lit up.

It's that one!

【Star-Gazing】!

"Destiny's hero, become the blade with which I control destiny, and destroy the pitch-black future—"

"Fusion Summon!"

"Level 10."

"Destiny HERO - Dominance!"

The three Destiny HEROes turned into black energy waves, the three waves spinning crazily in the air, then gradually turning into a huge "throne."

Beneath the throne, a pitch-black cloak slowly spread out, fluttering in the wind. Beneath it, a mighty, fully-armored hero had already lightly swung its huge and sharp sword, waiting for the person who dared to challenge his 【destiny】.

Destiny HERO - Dominance, Level 10, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 2900.

"ATK 2900? A bit higher than Dystopia?" Amon didn't have the slightest emotional change.

After all, until now in the duel, his 【duel】 had not been affected in the slightest.

Aster looked at his opponent, was silent for a long time, and pointed to Amon's deck: "Then, let me show you the power of 【destiny】 that I have mastered.

Dominance's monster effect."

"This effect can only be activated once per turn, during my Main Phase. Look at the top 5 cards of my or my opponent's deck, and return them to the top of the deck in any order I like!"

What!?

For the first time, Amon had an emotional fluctuation.

He was shocked.

And behind him, Echo had already exclaimed.

Changing the top card of the deck, isn't that... controlling the future direction of both sides, controlling 【destiny】?

"I am going to check the top cards of your deck!"

Aster raised a finger decisively.

"Change destiny!"

Dominance raised his greatsword high, then swung it down fiercely. Five cards flew out from the top of Amon's deck. After glancing at them, he put one of the cards at the very back.

It goes without saying—

Exodia the Forbidden One!

Subsequently, Aster carefully checked the effects of the remaining cards, and after a moment of silence, adjusted their order according to the level of danger.

"Decided, let's do it like this—"

Dominance swung his greatsword again, and the cards returned the way they came, staying quietly on top of Amon's deck.

"Battle, Dominance attacks!"

Dominance extended his left hand, and a 【D】 mark lit up on his left hand, then a streak of pitch-black turbulence blasted out, instantly destroying Air Circulation Machine.

"When Dominance destroys a monster by battle, I draw a card." Aster said.

"... When Air Circulation Machine is destroyed by battle, I draw a card."

Both drew a card at the same time.

Aster glanced at the card in his hand and put it into his hand silently, without speaking.

Amon looked at the card in his hand.

Cloudian, huh...

Is it reminding me to keep my original intention?

He looked up at Aster, and when Amon looked at him, Aster said: "How about it? As long as Dominance is on the field, you will never reach the destiny of drawing 【Exodia】."

"Stubborn..." Amon said, but in his eyes, a trace of impulse and heat began to burn again, "Fine, then, let's have a real showdown."

Perhaps everyone's beliefs are different, and their thoughts are different.

But—

This is the language of the true 【soul】 ignited by the collision of duelists!

(End of chapter)