Ten minutes later, Aster Phoenix was already sitting in a car heading for the airport.
He dialed Kira's number.
After just a few seconds, the call connected and Kira's voice came through.
"Aster? How's it going? Was your trip smooth?"
"Heh, not bad. Would've been better if I had more time," Aster smiled.
"It's done. I'm on my way to the airport. As for that spirit you asked about, I made some progress, but don't get your hopes up."
On the other end, Kira shrugged: "My expectations are always rock bottom. No worries, go ahead."
"Alright. First, the thing you most wanted to know—I still have no clue what that spirit is. I caught a Bishop here, but even he didn't know who they're after.
According to them, it's 'God's will.'"
"Evil god, huh?" said Kira. "So they really call their faith that."
"It's weird, yeah. But they did say why they want that spirit," Aster said. "It's about a certain place in the spirit world."
"The spirit world?" Kira was surprised.
"Yeah, a place that seems to be hidden," Aster said. "They're searching for it, and it's related to unsealing their god.
But either they can't find the place and need information on its location, or the spirit holds the key to the seal.
So now, catching that spirit is the church's top priority, no matter the cost."
"Oh?"
Kira glanced at the big, floating eye beside him. Sensing danger, the eye widened in fright and floated back.
"What do you want from me? I'll say this first, you can't have any improper thoughts about my body—"
"That would require you to have a body first, right?"
Kira chuckled.
"You're sure you don't remember anything about that hidden place?"
The big eye shook like a rattle drum.
"As you can see, I don't even remember who I am..."
"I see, so you're basically useless," Kira said, rubbing his chin.
The eye nervously shrank back.
"You—what are you planning now?" The eye blinked. "By the way, everyone calls you the supreme Duel King, but you never look or act like a good guy..."
Kira smirked: "Nothing. I was just thinking, since you're useless but there's a group desperate to find you... If I sold you, how much would you fetch? Or how many rare cards?"
The big eye jumped in fright.
Kira ignored it, turning back to Aster: "Thanks for your hard work, Aster. Someone will talk to you about payment."
"No, no, let's call it a favor. It was on my way, and besides, it was a nice bit of entertainment between tournaments."
Aster paused.
"But more than payment, what I really want to know is... how's my father?"
"He's doing well—stable now, over at KaibaCorp. You should be able to visit him next week, but be prepared.
He's out of danger, but returning to normal... might not be possible."
"I know." Aster smiled. "But just being able to see him, to talk to my father again—it feels like a dream.
It's the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me. I don't think I've ever thanked you in person, Mr. Kira."
In fact, even the doctors and scientists at KaibaCorp called it a miracle—after ten years trapped in a monster, Aster's father's soul was freed from the card and revived. Even with the world's top black technology, it should have been impossible.
Well, without a miraculous cat's help, it would have been.
When Kira asked Lyman for help, even he was stumped.
As a genius alchemist, Lyman was as close to the Human Transmutation problem as anyone had ever been.
But this was even tough for him.
"His body's been dead for ten years, and his soul's been out of it for a decade. You want me to pull it back? Why not ask your professor to go to heaven?"
Kira replied with a smile, "But professor, didn't you yourself escape your body and survive? You even live inside a cat now..."
Lyman snorted: "Do you think Pharaoh was just a stray cat I picked up? You think I could live in any cat's belly? You know how hard I worked to become this?"
But Kira didn't push; he just asked his professor to give it a try.
Lyman sighed and agreed—after all, what could he do with such a troublesome student?
And so, with the combined efforts of the world's top alchemist, the world's top tech corporation, and the world's top card-printing company, the impossible became possible.
Though he didn't have a body, they managed to separate Aster's father's soul from the Destiny HERO - Plasma card and housed it in a temporary mechanical vessel built by KaibaCorp.
Next week, Aster would be able to talk to his father again using KaibaCorp's tech.
"No need for thanks—we're colleagues, friends now," Kira smiled.
"If you really want to thank me, just finish the development soon. By the way, I saw your recent matches—you've been trying out new ideas?"
"Yeah, you told me my father's Destiny HERO deck had more potential than I realized. Lately, I'm finding you might be right."
Aster sounded excited.
"I always thought I understood my Destiny HEROes, but that was just what I thought. I never really knew them.
Ultimate D shouldn't be their limit—I can feel it. There's more power waiting to be discovered."
"That's right. Keep it up," Kira encouraged.
Once Aster's father was awake and they could discuss these new ideas, Destiny HERO would reach a new level.
After hanging up, Kira smiled at his terminal.
Go for it, Aster boy, I'm rooting for you.
...
2 Bonus chapters at 500 PS