A New Breed of Hero, Part 2

Aster: 1800

Jaden: 2800

"I'll place one card face down and end my turn." Aster said.

"You think things are intense now, just wait. It's my move!" Jaden drew.

"During your standby phase, Clock Tower Prison's effect activates, causing it to gain a clock counter."

The hands on the clock moved forward to 3 o'clock.

"That's quite the time piece." Bonaparte said.

"Yes, exquisite workmanship." Crowler added.

"Whatever that clock is for, I'm sure the cards in my deck can stop it."

"Wrong. Nothing can stop the hands of fate."

"Don't be so sure. I summon Wroughtweiler in attack mode."

Wroughtweiler: 800/1200

"Now attack Doom Lord!"

Wroughtweiler ran forward and tackled Doom Lord, destroying him.

Aster: 1600

"I activate Destiny Signal!"

A light shined in the sky, but with the letter D instead of E.

"If that's the Destiny version of Hero Signal that means Aster can summon a new Destiny Hero from his deck." Kaoru said, knowing the group was looking at her for answers.

"That's real original." Jaden muttered.

"I heard that. You're just bitter that I have the upper hand. When one of my monsters is destroyed in battle, I can play this card to summon a level 4 or lower Destiny Hero from my deck like my Destiny Hero - Captain Tenacious."

Destiny Hero - Captain Tenacious: 800/800

"And now that introductions are out of the way, the captain can demonstrate it's hidden talent."

"Great and if it's anything like Doom Lord then Jaden is in deep cow poop." Tyson said.

"Talent? What's he gonna do, play the kazoo?"

"Go ahead, make jokes. But believe me, I'll have the last laugh. My move. And now that it's my standby phase, the effect of my Captain Tenacious activates."

A bright light flashed on Aster's field and his Doom Lord reappeared.

Destiny Hero - Doom Lord: 600/800

"How'd Doom Lord come back? What's going on Bastion?" Hassleberry asked.

"It doesn't take a genius to spell out the fact that Aster is kicking Jaden's ass." Davis said.

"Crude but effective." Bastion said.

"You see, thanks to Captain Tenacious' special ability, during each of my standby phases I can summon back a monster you destroyed in battle. And now I'll summon Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude."

Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude: 1400/1600

"During each of my turns, I can reveal the top card of my deck and if it's a normal spell, it goes to my graveyard and I can activate it there on my next turn. Look at that, it's my Misfortune spell. How appropriate, because now misfortune's in your future. Now Diamond Dude, attack that mutt with Diamond Knuckle."

Diamond Dude rushed forward and struck Wroughtweiler, destroying him with one punch.

Jaden: 2200

"You're not the only one who can activate a monster effect, Aster. When Wroughtweiler goes to the graveyard, I can fetch an Elemental Hero and Polymerization from the grave and I choose Bubbleman."

"Is that supposed to scare me or something? Sorry, not gonna happen. Captain Tenacious, attack him directly."

Tenacious charged Jaden and gave him an uppercut, knocking him onto his back.

Jaden: 1400

"I place one card face down and end my turn."

"It's about time. I draw."

"Speaking of time, it sure does fly when you're having fun. Too bad time's on my side today."

"Alright then, time to summon Bubbleman."

Elemental Hero Bubbleman: 800/1200

"And now I activate Bubble Blaster, giving it 800 attack points."

"Now attack Captain Tenacious!"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I activate D-Shield, which not only switches Tenacious to defense mode, but also prevents him from being destroyed in battle."

"He may be annoying, but he's good."

"Aster took a monster that revives other monsters and made it invincible."

"Remind me to do the same for my monsters." Kaoru said.

"Guess that's why they pay him the big bucks."

"My move. I draw." Aster drew.

"And since it's your second standby phase, I get my Shining Flare Wingman back."

Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman: 2500/2100

"Congratulations, but in case you forgot, I get a card back too. Since Diamond Dude sent Misfortune to the graveyard last turn, I can activate it, allowing me to deal damage to you equal to half the original attack of one of your monsters, like your Shining Flare Wingman."

An energy barrier appeared in front of Aster, and Shining Flare Wingman shot a energy blast at it, but it bounced off the barrier and hit Jaden.

Jaden: 150

"You turned him against me."

"And now I activate Doom Lord's effect, sending your Shining Flare Wingman two turns into the future. See ya."

Doom Lord struck Shining Flare Wingman, causing him to vanish again.

"Poor Jaden. Thanks to Aster's destiny cards, he's lost control over his own monsters. I've never seen him like this."

"This duel is remarkable. It breaks every known formula. Jaden can't make a choice because all of his moves have been predetermined."

"I can see your struggle. Everything you've ever believed in has turned out to be a lie. There are no choices. Freedom is but an illusion, for you see my young friend, destiny has led you to me. Jaden, I have infused Aster's deck with the truth and when he defeats you in this duel, your eyes will finally open. Soon you shall walk along the path of light, by my side."

"Let's try this again. I draw!"

"Ah ah ah, how many times are you gonna forget about the nine story clock towering above your head?"

"It's nine o'clock. The countdown to your defeat is almost over. You hear the bell, don't you? Well, it tolls for you. Told ya you were destined to lose. Now do you believe in destiny?"

"Heh." Jaden chuckled.

"What's the matter? Pressure getting to you?" Aster asked.

"You kidding me? Guys like me live for pressure. It keeps me at the top of my game. Anyway, I've been looking for a serious challenge since the start of the semester, plus with all these new Destiny Heroes of yours, I'm picking up some sweet new strategies."

"Dude, you gotta get out more. And besides, you could never handle a deck like mine, so stick to your own heroes. My Destiny Heroes are the strongest heroes there are, they're the strongest cards in the game."

"Someone's clearly never heard of the Egyptian Gods." Davis said.

"Give me a break. Sure, they're cool and all, but I wouldn't call them the best in the game."

"I'd watch what I say if I were you." Aster advised.

"Alright, then I'll watch myself say this: Bubbleman, attack Doom Lord with Bombarding Bubble Barrage!"

Aster: 600

"Yowza, now that was a good old-fashioned hind-whoopin'."

"Think you're tough? Just wait till my Captain's ability kicks in."

"Big deal. I summon Clayman in defense mode."

Elemental Hero Clayman: 800/2000

"Now give me your best shot."

"If you insist, I draw! And since it's my standby phase, the effect of Captain Tenacious activates, reviving my Doom Lord. Next I activate Diamond Dude's effect so I reveal the top card of my deck. It's my Magical Stone Excavation, so it's sent to my graveyard and I can activate it next turn. Now I'll send Bubbleman two turns into the future."

Doom Lord struck Bubbleman, causing him to vanish as his Bubble Blaster clattered to the ground before it shattered.

"Oh man, things aren't looking good for Jaden."

"Next I equip Captain Tenacious with Ring of Magnetism. He may lose 500 attack and defense points, but now you're only allowed to attack him."

"Now Jaden is forced to attack a monster that can't be destroyed in battle."

"What's his problem?" Alexis asked. "You'd think those two had some kind of history or something."

"That seems to be the case." Kaoru said.

"What's wrong, feel like you've lost control?" Aster asked.

"Not quite. I draw!"

"Sorry bro, but I call the shots and my time has arrived."

"Why do I get the feeling Aster planned all this?" Kaoru asked.

The air around the clock tower became distorted, making the whole structure ripple like waves on the ocean.

"I don't know what that clock is about to do, but I'd better put a stop to it. I play Polymerization to fuse Elemental Hero Wildheart and Necroshade to summon Elemental Hero Necroid Shaman."

Elemental Hero Necroid Shaman: 1900/1800

"You call that freak a hero? Sorry, but he doesn't register on the hero scale."

"He may not be the coolest hero, but due to his special ability, when he's summoned, one of your monsters is sent to the graveyard and bring out another one in it's place."

"What?" Aster exclaimed in shock.

"Awesome move." Kaoru said. "That's what I would've done."

"I send Tenacious to your graveyard and revive Avian in it's place in attack mode."

Elemental Hero Avian: 1000/1000

"Excellent maneuver Soldier."

"Take him down Jaden!"

"Necroid Shaman, attack Doom Lord!"

Necroid Shaman raised his staff and it hit Doom Lord, but Aster didn't seem concerned.

Aster: 600

"Nice try, but my field spell has 4 counters and I don't take battle damage."

"I place two cards face down and end my turn."

"All these monsters and Jaden's losing to a clock?" Chazz asked.

"It's worse than that. Aster's been in control of this entire duel. And as long as that clock is out, Jaden can't fight back."

"During my standby phase, your Shining Flare Wingman returns to the field. And then I activate Magical Stone Excavation from the graveyard. I return Misfortune to my hand and activate it once again. You'll take damage equal to half of Shining Flare Wingman's attack points. You're finished."

"I don't think so. Go, De-Fusion and Burial from a Different Dimension. Three banished monsters return to my graveyard and then Shining Flare Wingman separate back into Flame Wingman and Sparkman. Your spell no longer has a target."

Elemental Hero Flame Wingman: 2100/1200

Elemental Hero Sparkman: 1600/1400

"Now that's how you hustle." Tyson said.

"Fine. It's your move."

"Thanks. I draw! And it's the card I really needed. I activate the field spell Fusion Gate, destroying Clock Tower Prison in the process."

"Thanks." Aster said.

"What?" Jaden's eyes widened.

"When Clock Tower Prison is destroyed with four or more counters, the monster within it is released. Come on out Destiny Hero - Dreadmaster."

Destiny Hero - Dreadmaster: 0/0

"Upon summon, any non Destiny Hero on my field is destroyed. Then, two Destiny Heroes are special summoned from the graveyard and the ones I select are Tenacious and Doom Lord. In addition, Dreadmaster gains attack and defense equal to the combined attack of my other Destiny Heroes."

"Not bad. I gotta admit, your heroes get cooler and cooler. But I've got a sweet hero of my own. I use Fusion Gate to summon Elemental Hero Thunder Giant."

Elemental Hero Thunder Giant: 2400/1500

"And now his special ability activates. It destroys one of your monsters that has equal to or less attack than Thunder Giant's. Destroy Diamond Dude with Static Blast."

Thunder Giant raised his hand and fired a blast of lightning at Diamond Dude, but Dreadmaster slammed his fist into the ground, causing a volley of stones to deflect the blast.

"What the-"

The group was shocked.

"Guess I forgot to mention. When Dreadmaster is summoned in attack mode, his special ability prevents my Destiny Heroes from being destroyed by battle or card effect that turn while keeping me from taking any battle damage."

"Great." Jaden muttered.

"Listen Jaden, your dueling skills may not be half bad, but there's something I have that you never will."

"What's that?" Jaden asked.

"Purpose. A reason to duel besides having fun." Aster answered.

"In a way it sounds like us." Davis said. "The Shiba Clan duel to protect Japan from an enemy we never knew we may have to face."

"What's your reason besides fun?" Jaden asked.

"The reason I duel is to bring justice to the world by punishing people who think they're above the law."

"Uh, come again?"

"If you ask me, the legal system needs work." Tyson said.

"My father was a card designer for Industrial Illusions. He put his heart into every design he created. He was my hero."

"What happened?" Jaden asked.

"Some punk took him away from me. I came in one night and he was beaten up and passed out on the floor. The ambulance took him to the hospital. Whoever attacked him left him in a coma, one the doctors said he'd likely never wake up from."

"That's awful. Wait, did your father?"

"That's right. My father created the Destiny Heroes. They were the last cards he ever made. He taught me that justice would always prevail, but he was wrong. After all these years, they still haven't caught the one responsible." Aster admitted.

"Sounds to me that the cops these days are just pathetic." Tyson said. "300 years ago theft in the samurai era would've had someone lose their hand."

"I swore I'd use the cards he created to bring criminals to justice, and some day I'll find the scumbag who attacked him and make them pay for what they did. And I'll know when I see them, because they have the last Destiny card, the last one my father made. And when I find them, they're gonna regret the day they were born!"

Everyone present was shocked.

"Don't you get it, Aster? Your dad wouldn't want you to use cards for the sake of revenge. He'd want you to use them to remember him and enjoy dueling with."

"You know nothing about him! He was my hero, and I'm not going to stop until his attacker pays for what he did! It's time to end this."

"Finally, the chosen duelist belongs to me." Sartorius said.

"Dreadmaster, attack!"

Dreadmaster leaped into the air and dived at Thunder Giant, delivering a punch that shook the arena,

Jaden: 0

"I told you. You can't hide from destiny."

Jaden's cards flew out of his duel disk and he collapsed onto the arena floor. Kaoru ran out of the stands and onto the floor.

"Jaden!" Alexis exclaimed.

*'Something's wrong. Everything's going blank.'*

Sure enough, Jaden's cards were turning blank.