"Aster Phoenix!"
The black robes recognized him and were even more surprised.
"Who's in charge here?" Aster asked, scanning the crowd.
They exchanged glances.
After a moment, the leader stepped forward.
"Me." He pointed at himself. "I'm the bishop here. Speak to me."
"You?" Aster looked him up and down, then nodded. "Alright. Let's make this quick."
He glanced at his watch.
"I've got about an hour before my flight. Sorry, but I'll wrap this up fast."
Such a dismissive attitude made everyone angry, but the bishop signaled them to calm down.
"Genius rookie Aster, we've heard of you.
But as far as I know, our Church has no grudge with you."
"True." Aster smiled. "I'm just helping a friend take care of you, but time's short. Since you're in charge, I'll deal with you first."
The bishop snorted, swirling his robe.
"Looks like a fight is unavoidable. But taking me down won't be easy."
He also activated his duel disk.
"Duel!" x2
[Aster, LP4000]
[Bishop, LP4000]
"I'll go first. Draw."
The bishop drew, then set a monster face-down.
"Next, I activate this card."
He slotted another card into his disk.
"Spell card 'Swords of Revealing Light'! For the next three turns, your monsters can't declare attacks!"
Aster frowned.
"Hey, are you stalling on purpose because you know I'm in a hurry?"
The bishop ignored him. "My turn ends."
"Alright. My turn."
Aster drew.
"Draw!"
"Activate spell 'Destiny Draw'—discard a 'Destiny HERO' from my hand, draw two cards!"
He pitched a Destiny HERO, drew twice, and instantly revealed one.
"Activate spell 'Pot of Greed', draw two more cards."
"Then, spell 'D-Spirit'! If no Destiny HERO is on the field, I can special summon a Level 4 or lower Destiny HERO from my hand."
He revealed the card.
"Special Summon 'Destiny HERO – Diamond Dude'!"
[Diamond Dude, ATK 1400]
"Diamond Dude's effect: once per turn, reveal the top card of my deck. If it's a spell, send it to the graveyard, and I can activate its effect next turn. If not, send it to the bottom."
Aster drew.
Of course, Aster's Diamond Draws never missed.
"Spell card 'Card of Adversity'." Aster revealed it. "So it goes to the graveyard, and I'll activate it next turn."
"Next, activate spell 'Over Destiny'!" Aster declared. "Target a Destiny HERO in my graveyard, and special summon a Destiny HERO from my deck with less than half that one's level.
Only, the special summoned monster must be destroyed at the end of the turn."
The bishop said, "The Destiny HERO you discarded just now…"
"That was 'Destiny HERO – Malicious', Level 6." Aster smiled. "So I can summon a Level 3 or lower Destiny HERO from my deck.
Come on! Destiny HERO - Doom Lord!"
The very monster floating beside him appeared, crouched in defense.
[Destiny HERO - Doom Lord, DEF 800]
"Then, Malicious's effect in the grave: banish this card, special summon another Malicious from the deck.
Come on! Destiny HERO – Malicious!"
[Malicious, ATK 800]
"Then I tribute Malicious, Diamond Dude, and Destiny HERO - Doom Lord—three monsters! To summon my highest-level Destiny HERO—
—Destiny HERO - Dogma!!"
A brilliant beam of light crashed into the battlefield. A heavy-armored warrior appeared, eyes sharp as an eagle, body tall, armor gleaming coldly.
[Destiny HERO - Dogma, ATK 3400]
"Three tributes for a monster like that on turn one… as expected of pro star Aster."
The bishop paused, then sneered.
"But no matter how strong, under 'Swords of Revealing Light', it can't attack."
"I know." Aster chuckled.
"I haven't normal summoned yet.
Now I summon 'Destiny HERO - Captain Tenacious' in attack position."
[Destiny HERO - Captain Tenacious, ATK 800]
"Lastly, I set two cards face-down and end my turn."
"Such a ferocious start, but in the end, that's it?" the bishop mocked. "My turn, draw!"
He drew a card—but before he could act, Destiny HERO - Dogma's eyes flashed menacingly. A powerful energy burst from him, mirrored beneath the bishop's feet as if to crush him.
"Uggh!"
The bishop groaned. It was so sudden, he nearly fell.
[Bishop, LP4000 → LP2000]
"What the…!?"
He stared at Destiny HERO - Dogma.
Aster grinned: "Destiny HERO - Dogma: while this card is on the field, at the start of your opponent's turn, their life points are halved." (Anime effect.)
This effect was nerfed on the real card—it only activates once, on the turn after Destiny HERO - Dogma is summoned. In the anime, it activates every turn.
"Burning half my life right away—dangerous guy."
The bishop glared at Destiny HERO - Dogma.
"Can't let you stay!"
He immediately played his next card.
"Activate spell 'Dark Core'! Discard a card to banish a face-up monster on the field!"
He discarded a card.
"Banish 'Destiny HERO - Dogma'!"