# Chapter 88: Could You Please Get Your Stratos Off the Field?
"So you've arrived." Yūga Hōzumi sneered as he looked at Aster Phoenix, who was cloaked in the Academy Commander's cape. Compared to their chance encounter that night, Aster Phoenix today was dressed to the nines.
"Dressing so well, is it so you'll look presentable at your own funeral?" Yūga Hōzumi mocked unceremoniously.
"Just because luck favored you once, do you think the Goddess of Fortune will always smile upon you?" Aster Phoenix said coldly.
"Luck?" Yūga Hōzumi activated his Duel Disk. "How about you think about that question after you've gone to Hell?"
"You bastard! Are you looking for death?" Behind Aster Phoenix, an Obelisk Force soldier wearing a mask was enraged, ready to charge forward, but Aster Phoenix held him back with a hand.
Unlike the melee on the other four battlefields, Yūga Hōzumi and Aster Phoenix on this one tacitly restrained their subordinates, awaiting the decisive outcome of their duel.
"Sharp-tongued fellow. I hope you'll still be able to stand there and talk like that later." Aster Phoenix flung his cape, activating his Duel Disk.
"Duel!" ×2
Yūga Hōzumi felt a little secretly pleased when he saw the "Second Turn" prompt light up on his Duel Disk. A HERO Deck, especially one that uses Destiny HERO - Dystopia as its ace—wouldn't taking the first turn be pure suicide?
"It seems the Goddess of Fortune is still smiling upon me," Yūga Hōzumi said with a smile.
"Is that so?" Aster Phoenix replied with a smile. "It seems I've been underestimated."
"I summon in Attack Position! Elemental HERO Stratos!" Aster Phoenix played the first card of the duel.
Yūga Hōzumi: ???
Looking at the HERO with turbo-charged twin wings in front of Aster Phoenix, three big question marks appeared above Yūga Hōzumi's head.
What's wrong with you? I thought you were playing a pure Destiny HERO deck?
"When Elemental HERO Stratos is Summoned, I can add one 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand." Aster Phoenix reached out and took the card that popped out of his Duel Disk. "I add Destiny HERO - Plasma to my hand!"
Yūga Hōzumi: ???
A few more question marks appeared above Yūga Hōzumi's head. Just then, Aster Phoenix said with a sneer:
"After losing to you last time, during my treatment at the Academy, I found records of the Elemental HERO Stratos you mentioned and other HEROs in the Academy's library. Although they were old cards, they were unexpectedly a good fit for my Deck, so I made copies of them all. Are you ready to be crushed by my invincible HEROs?"
*So, what's next? Are you going to pull the 'Vyon-does-everything' routine on me?* Yūga Hōzumi complained internally. *Also, don't you know there's a whole meme about Destiny HERO - Plasma?! And you just whip it out like that?*
"I activate the Spell Card, Destiny Draw! By discarding one 'Destiny HERO' card, I can draw two cards from my Deck. I discard Destiny HERO - Disk Commander from my hand! I draw two cards!"
"I activate the Spell Card, Polymerization!"
"I fuse Destiny HERO - Denier and Destiny HERO - Malicious from my hand!"
"Hero who controls malice! Hero who plays with right and wrong! Now merge into one, and reign over the dark future in a new form! Fusion Summon! COME ON! Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
Two monsters flew out from Aster Phoenix's hand, one after another, and merged behind him. Moments later, the hero clad in blue battle armor appeared.
Destiny HERO - Dystopia ATK: 2800
"I activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Dystopia! When this card is Special Summoned, I can target one Level 4 or lower 'Destiny HERO' monster in my Graveyard and inflict damage to my opponent equal to that monster's ATK. Oppression Palm!"
Destiny HERO - Dystopia extended its hand and fired a bullet of light toward Yūga Hōzumi.
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 4000 → 2900
"Is that all?" Yūga Hōzumi actually sighed in relief after taking the effect damage. *As long as it's not the usual Vyon power play, it's fine. Denier and Malicious popping out to be tributed for Destiny HERO - Plasma with Stratos... Next turn, a Book of Moon and...*
As Yūga Hōzumi was thinking, Aster Phoenix played a card that made his heart stop.
"I activate the Spell Card, Fusion Destiny!"
"I send Fusion Material Monsters listed on a Fusion Monster Card from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster that lists a 'Destiny HERO' monster as material from my Extra Deck. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase of the next turn."
"I send Destiny HERO - Dasher and Destiny HERO - Denier from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
"Hero who shatters the shackles of destiny with extreme speed, hero imbued with divinity! Now merge into one! Treading the burning flames of Hell, bring an end to this world in the form of an immortal phoenix! Fusion Summon! Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
Within the fusion vortex woven from darkness, a resounding phoenix cry echoed through the heavens. The blazing flames of Hell ignited, dark red wings suddenly spread open, and a scorching aura swept across the entire field.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer ATK: 2500
Yūga Hōzumi: !!!
Looking at the phoenix-like hero who had arrived treading on hellfire, Yūga Hōzumi almost blurted out "holy crap" ten thousand times over. A HERO deck could actually run Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer now?
But Aster Phoenix's plays weren't over yet. His Graveyard lit up again.
"I activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Denier from the Graveyard! If there is a 'Destiny HERO' monster other than 'Destiny HERO - Denier' on my field or in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon this card from the Graveyard."
"I activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Malicious from the Graveyard! I banish this card from my Graveyard to Special Summon one 'Destiny HERO - Malicious' from my Deck."
"I tribute Elemental HERO Stratos, Destiny HERO - Denier, and Destiny HERO - Malicious on the field! Special Summon!"
"Descend! The ultimate Destiny HERO! Destiny HERO - Plasma!"
The three HEROs transformed into pillars of light and shot into the sky. Between the rays of light, an evil warrior radiating an ominous aura slowly emerged, appearing beside Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer.
Destiny HERO - Plasma ATK: 1900
"This is the new power I've obtained! My Destiny HEROs are invincible!" Aster Phoenix said confidently. "I set one card and end my turn."
Yūga Hōzumi was speechless.
*I get all that, but before you run your mouth, could you please get your Stratos off my field?!*
Yūga Hōzumi looked at the three HEROs on his opponent's field and thought with a bead of sweat, *If I'm not mistaken, that set card in the backrow is probably meant to change Destiny HERO - Dystopia's attack points.*
"My turn! Draw!" Yūga Hōzumi drew a card.
"At this moment, I activate my Continuous Trap, D-Tactics!" As soon as Yūga Hōzumi drew, Aster Phoenix revealed his backrow card.
"The effect of the Continuous Trap, D-Tactics! During my or my opponent's Standby Phase, all 'HERO' monsters on my field gain 400 ATK."
Destiny HERO - Dystopia ATK: 2800 → 3200
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer ATK: 2500 → 2900
Destiny HERO - Plasma ATK: 1900 → 2300
"So, it's two destruction effects plus Plasma's lockdown?" Before making his play, Yūga Hōzumi looked at his hand, pondering how to clear the board.
"What's wrong, are you scared?" Seeing Yūga Hōzumi's prolonged inaction, Aster Phoenix said with a sneer.
"Scared? How could I be?" Yūga Hōzumi said with a smile. "Quick-Play Spell! I activate Book of Moon!"
...
Regarding the DIY topic, if no one wants to read it, then I won't write about it anymore.
(end of chapter)