[Destiny HERO - Plasma] Level 8 │ DARK │ Warrior │ 1900 ATK / 600 DEF
Regarded by the Shadow Duelist as the strongest of all Destiny HEROes, Blood-D, the demonic-winged figure, hovered above a pool of crimson blood, its wings fully spread like those of a devil.
"You call that... a hero?" Korys' expression grew more and more frantic.
In Korys' heart, the Exorcister girls and the HEROes were all cards that symbolized justice. That said, looking at Blood-D before her eyes, she couldn't feel a trace of justice from this monster.
All she could sense was an overwhelming aura—the crushing power of absolute destiny.
"1900 Attack Points?"
Even though the Destiny HERO had been Special Summoned by tributing three D monsters, and its Attack was lower than Neos and Nova Master, Ren didn't dare to let her guard down.
After all, that oppressive power of destiny was very real.
The Shadow Duelist's hoarse voice echoed from beneath his hood. "Now, I activate [Destiny HERO - Plasma]'s effect! Absorb one of your monsters!"
[Once per turn: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; equip that target to this card.]
"I'll absorb the power of your [Elemental HERO Nova Master] and equip it to Plasma!"
The destiny of blood completely devoured the flames. Ren could only watch as her Fusion HERO was absorbed into Destiny HERO - Plasma's body.
[This card gains ATK equal to half the equipped monster's ATK, and gains that monster's effects.]
A fiery layer of starlight erupted across its blood-red exterior as Plasma's Attack reversed and climbed upward, taking in Nova Master's draw effect as well.
[Destiny HERO - Plasma, ATK: 1900 → 3200]
"Absorbing your opponent's monsters to fight—there's nothing just about that!" Korys shouted.
"Little girl, I don't know who you are, but let me tell you something."
Even the Shadow Duelist had lost patience with Korys Diane's constant chatter.
"Absolute power—that is justice. The victor—that is justice. The one who survives to the end—that is justice!"
"How is any of that justice?" Korys was completely unable to comprehend.
"..."
Ren, however, though she resisted this ideology born from Edigo's enemy, felt a flicker of truth hidden within those twisted words.
"I activate the Spell Card [D - Force]!"
The Shadow Duelist flipped his hand to reveal a card bearing only the single letter "D."
Then, instead of setting it on the field, he placed [D - Force] on top of his Deck.
"By placing [D - Force] on top of my Deck, I skip my Draw Phase—but in exchange, [Destiny HERO - Plasma] becomes unaffected by your card effects."
The cost of losing one's Draw Phase was immense.
And yet, the Shadow Duelist still chose to activate [D - Force] to grant Plasma immunity—proof that its dominance was worth even the sacrifice of draws.
"Now then—Battle!"
As the Battle Phase began, the dark aura of the 3000-attack Earthbound Immortal clashed against the 3200-point Plasma.
"Crush Neos completely! [Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu], attack!"
Having been Special Summoned from the Graveyard by [Revival of the Immortals], the Earthbound Immortal bore a side effect: it couldn't inflict battle damage.
That meant its ability to attack players directly became meaningless.
Even so, the Shadow Duelist revived it because the giant had another way of dealing damage.
[When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK.]
A colossal hand crashed down from the heavens, slamming Neos deep into the earth.
[Elemental HERO Neos destroyed]
[Ren, LP: 4000 → 1500]
The battle damage itself didn't apply, however, the 2500 damage from Neos's Attack did—Ren took it all.
"So weak, Ren Austin. You can't even stir my interest. No—you never have."
As the Battle Phase continued, the black dragon head upon Plasma's arm gathered a sphere of blood-red energy aimed straight at Ren.
"Ren!" Korys broke into a cold sweat.
With [D - Force] resting atop the Deck, granting Plasma full effect immunity, no ordinary card effect could stop this attack.
Conflicted and desperate, Korys found herself wishing that the Millennium Necklace's vision of the future would come true—for at least then, Ren wouldn't fall to Plasma.
"That's far enough!" Ren flipped her set card.
"Trap Card, activate—[Neospace Road]!"
[When your "Elemental HERO Neos" is destroyed by battle: End the Battle Phase. Then, draw 1 card.]
Neos, crushed into the earth by the Earthbound Immortal, burst forth once more, unleashing one final pulse that forcibly ended the Shadow Duelist's Battle Phase.
Using a phase-skipping effect to halt an untouchable monster's attack—that, too, was a valid tactic.
"And because [Neospace Road] activated, I draw one card!"
Ren secretly thanked her luck—good thing the opponent had greedily absorbed Nova Master's 100 extra points and effect instead of Neos.
If Plasma had absorbed Neos, [Neospace Road] would never have activated, and she would have been in real trouble.
"Boring. How utterly boring." The Shadow Duelist sneered.
"Ren Austin, you are such a tedious person. Even on the brink of destruction, you can't grasp what it is you truly need to do!"
"Why do you act like you know me so well?" Ren snapped. "And why should I care what you think? You're nothing but a disgusting villain who preys on children!"
"I Set two cards. Turn end."
The Shadow Duelist, unable to draw due to [D - Force], chose instead to set his remaining two cards.
"If you've put everything on [Destiny HERO - Plasma], then I just have to make you run out of options!" Ren declared. "Spell Card, [Pot of Greed]!"
[Draw 2 cards.]
Unlike her opponent, Ren's hand was well-stocked from all her previous draw effects.
"Since you've shown me your strongest Destiny HERO, I can't afford to hold back either. Now, I'll show you my strongest Elemental HERO!"
"Your strongest Elemental HERO?" The Shadow Duelist's brow furrowed.
"Spell Card, [Instant Contact], activate!"
[You can pay 1000 LP; Special Summon 1 Level 7 or lower "Elemental HERO" or "Neo-Spacian" monster from your Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions.]
[Ren, LP: 1500 → 500]
Ren didn't hesitate—she paid what little Life Points she had left, bringing herself to the brink of defeat.
To survive, a hero must never retreat—only fight forward until the very end.
"With [Instant Contact]'s effect, I Special Summon from my Extra Deck the Level 6 Fusion Monster [Elemental HERO Flame Wingman]!"
[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman] Level 6 │ WIND │ Warrior │ 2100 ATK
Skipping its Fusion materials entirely, Ren directly summoned Flame Wingman from the Extra Deck.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card [Miracle Fusion]!"
[Banishing Fusion Materials from your field or Graveyard listed on an "Elemental HERO" Fusion Monster; Fusion Summon that monster from your Extra Deck.]
"Flame Wingman... heh, I see." The Shadow Duelist chuckled darkly.
On Ren's field was Flame Wingman; in her Graveyard—Sparkman, used last turn for Nova Master.
"Shining Flare Wingman, huh? So that's your strongest Elemental HERO. How quaint."
"Times have changed. Now, this is the strongest!"
Within the radiant glow of Miracle Fusion, Ren chose her Fusion Materials.
"I fuse [Elemental HERO Flame Wingman] on my field with [Elemental HERO Neos] in my Graveyard!"
Ren's new ultimate HERO, the miracle fusion of light born yesterday in Miles's Turbo Duel, was now recreated on her own field.
"The strongest HERO from the Neo Space, shining forth to bring victory! Miracle Fusion! Fusion Summon—[Elemental HERO Shining Neos Wingman]!"
[Elemental HERO Shining Neos Wingman] Level 8 │ LIGHT │ Warrior │ 3100 ATK / 2500 DEF
Fusion Materials: "Elemental HERO Neos" + 1 Wingman Fusion Monster
Clad in radiant silver armor that gleamed with flame and starlight, the Neo HERO soared upward, its shining wings cutting through the miracle light as it rose above the towering Earthbound giant.
"So cool! Ren, you had such an awesome HERO hidden all along!"
Korys' faith in HERO justice, once shaken by Blood-D's existence, was reignited by Shining Neos Wingman's arrival.
"A HERO that strong... and you never used him against me. Ren, you were holding back, weren't you?"
Well… she couldn't help it. After all, that card hadn't even been printed back when she dueled Korys.
...
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