"I won! That was a really fun duel!"
Striking his classic victory pose, Jaden lightly pointed forward with his fingertip.
As the duel's ending visuals faded away, the courtyard—previously frozen solid by Absolute Zero—gradually regained its vitality.
"Tch… so I ended up losing like that in the end," Clara said unwillingly. "I really thought I was going to win this time."
"You were already amazing, Clara!" Hoshino praised sincerely. "Compared to when we first met, your strength is on a completely different level!"
"Ehehe~" Scratching her head happily at Hoshino's praise, Clara said, "I do train a lot with Aster, you know. So when it comes to dealing with HEROes, I'm pretty good at it. But…"
Turning her gaze toward Judai, Clara added, "The HEROes you use feel completely different from Aster's. Of course, Aster's HEROes are amazing too~"
Clap, clap, clap—
Without any warning, Aster began applauding as he stepped forward with a smile.
"You didn't disappoint me, Jaden Yuki. Just like the rumors say—you're an outstanding duelist when it comes to using an Elemental HERO Deck."
Clara tilted her head curiously. "But I wonder, if we compared you and Aster, who would be stronger? I'm not being biased as his sister or anything—just my personal guess, but I think Aster might be a little stronger."
"Stronger than my HEROes?" Jaden's eyes lit up instantly. "Then let's strike while the iron's hot and duel right now!"
Even though he had just finished a duel with Clara, Jaden still looked eager, brimming with fighting spirit.
"You really are full of energy," Aster said with a light chuckle. "As fellow HERO users, you and I will settle things someday. But today, my goal isn't to duel you."
Aster gently shook his head and turned his gaze toward Hoshino.
"The reason you were specifically invited to the Phoenix family, Hoshino Chiyuki, is because I want to duel you."
The inverted Fool foretold in Sartorius's prophecy…
—Yesterday, at the Sartorius Estate—
"The Fool, which symbolizes infinite potential, appearing reversed—don't you find that curious, Aster?"
Sartorius said with a smile, pointing at the Tarot card on the table.
"Infinite potential reversed?" Aster replied without hesitation. "Wouldn't that just mean no potential at all?"
"Even if Hoshino Chiyuki was once the Duel King, that title was earned seven years ago on Duelist Kingdom—a rather small-scale tournament."
With the rapid evolution of Duel Monsters over the years, competitions from seven years ago—whether Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, or even the KC Prix—paled in comparison to the modern Professional Duelist League, which now operated on a global scale with a complete industry system.
Although Hoshino had been personally acknowledged by the father of Duel Monsters, Maximillion Pegasus, and granted the one-and-only title of "Duel King"—
Seven years was more than enough time for countless champions to be born within the fiercely competitive professional scene. Bathed in dazzling spotlights, crowned kings continued to emerge, and the world naturally believed them to be stronger.
Legends fade. New generations replace the old.
An ironclad rule in any competitive arena.
"Even if she was the strongest duelist seven years ago, the times have changed," Aster said calmly. "She's just a reversed Fool. Aren't you being overly sensitive, Sartorius?"
"A reversed Fool… someone without potential?"
"Heh… hehehe…"
Lowering his head, eyes locked onto the Tarot card, Sartorius's body trembled as he let out a chilling laugh.
"I thought the same thing, Aster. But I was wrong—hahahahaha!"
Aster frowned. He had never seen Sartorius laugh like this before. It felt as though the person sitting in front of him was a stranger wearing Sartorius's skin.
"A reversed Fool should signify a person with no potential. Yet the girl who drew that card shattered the door to a new world during her duel with Kagemaru."
If one interpreted the Tarot purely at face value, such an outcome made no sense. But Aster, who hadn't witnessed that duel against the Sacred Beasts, didn't know that the Xyz era had begun because of Hoshino's battle.
"So please, Aster," Saio said softly. "This upright Chariot card represents you. Use the power of destiny to defeat the Fool."
"I'll prove your worries are unnecessary," Aster replied, picking up the Tarot card and turning away. "The era has already changed. The king from seven years ago is now the true 'reversed Fool.'"
...
"I want to duel you—Hoshino Chiyuki, the former Duel King."
Aster deliberately stressed the word former, his tone faintly provocative.
"Hm? You want to duel me?" Hoshino asked innocently, pointing to herself.
"Aster!" Clara snapped, hands on her hips as she scolded him sternly. "You've really got no manners! I've wanted to say this since earlier!"
"S–Sis?" Aster froze. It was rare for Clara to truly get angry at him.
"Hoshino is the same age as me—and she's also a benefactor of the Phoenix family! How can you just call her by name? You'll make people think our family has no upbringing at all!"
Completely shut down, Aster's mouth twitched awkwardly before he corrected himself.
"Uh… Hoshino Chiyuki… m-miss. Please grant me the honor of dueling you."
It felt awkward in every possible way—but Clara's seriousness did oddly move Hoshino.
And seeing how obedient Aster became the moment Clara got strict, it was obvious he truly respected his sister.
"Just call me Hoshino," she said with a nod.
"As for the duel, I'm more than happy to accept.
(Hoshino Alter: Mainly because there are Saint Quartz.)
A HERO user who doesn't lose to Jaden—what kind of strength do you have? I'm very interested.
(Hoshino Alter: If the level's high, there must be lots of Quartz.)"
Hoshino: "(╯°Д°)╯ Why are you translating my inner thoughts on your own?!"
"Hoshino… got it," Aster said, his eyes sharp with resolve. "Then let me witness the strength of the King!"
Taking the Duel Disk from Clara, Aster strapped it onto his arm and loaded his own Deck—the Deck of destiny, as Sartorius had foretold.
"Jaden, let me borrow your Duel Disk for a bit~"
"Yes, Sensei!"
Since Aster was using Clara's Duel Disk, Hoshino simply decided to use the Duel Disk she had inherited from Jaden.
"Is that really okay, Senpai?" Mash asked worriedly. "Do you want me to prepare for battle?"
If Mash stood beside Hoshino in her current form, it would mean Hoshino couldn't use Mash's cards, which would significantly reduce the Deck's defensive capabilities.
"No," Hoshino replied gently. "Since I specifically brought my cute junior out on a trip, how could I let you worry about fighting?"
She patted Mash's soft hair and smiled brightly.
"Mash, you can just enjoy watching the duel. There's no need to worry about defense either—George has got it covered~"
Saint George: "I really don't got it!"
Duel—!
Activating his Duel Disk, Aster glanced at Hoshino and said,
"Hoshino, I have a suggestion. Let's use the Professional Duel League rules for this match—8000 Life Points."
"You're a professional duelist. If you're more comfortable with that rule, I have no objections."
After all, for the past few days, Hoshino had been dueling Zane using professional rules as well.
"It's not just about being comfortable," Aster said with a confident smile. "I think higher Life Points will let us enjoy the fight even more. You go first, Hoshino."
"Then I won't hold back. My turn—draw!"
Drawing her opening card, Hoshino flung a monster onto her Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Magical Girl Illya!"
[Magical Girl Illya ★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]
"Illya's effect: when she is Summoned, I can add one Phantasm Summon from my Deck to my hand."
Pulling out the card searched by starlight magic, Hoshino immediately activated it for Fusion.
"Quick-Play Spell activated! Phantasm Summon—this card can banish Illya on the field as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon a Magical Girl monster!"
Lifting the hem of her pink skirt, Illya drew out a Class Card from her pale thigh, ignoring the Ruby Wand in her hand as starlight wrapped around her small body.
"Class Card—Berserker! Install: Heracles! Phantasm Summon—"
"Come forth! Dream Fusion Summon—Magical Girl Heracles Illya!"
[Magical Girl Heracles Illya ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][EARTH][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2800/DEF 1000]
Wearing beast-hide armor that exposed much of her skin, Illya wielded a massive stone axe taller than herself, radiating savage ferocity.
"Next, Magical Girl Illya's effect: if this card is banished as Fusion Material, it can be Special Summoned to my field."
[Magical Girl Illya DEF 1000]
"Finally, I set one card. Turn end!"
[Hoshino's: 4 Jaden Cards | 2 Set Cards]
"So you Fusion Summon a monster with 2800 ATK on the very first turn?" Clara said excitedly.
"As expected of Hoshino—you're as aggressive as ever!"
Having witnessed many of Hoshino's undefeated duels in the underground arena, Clara had long since elevated her to an invincible figure in her mind.
"Do your best, Aster! Don't lose too badly~"
"My turn—draw!"
After drawing, Aster glanced at Hoshino's field.
"A Fusion monster of Magical Girl Illya, huh. I've heard that Pegasus designed the Elemental HERO series based on inspiration from this Deck. And this Magical Girl Illya set ended up becoming a discontinued line."
Aster narrowed his eyes, recalling the past.
During the Pyramid of Light incident, Hoshino Alter had caused chaos at Chaldea, forcing Hoshino to rely solely on the Magical Girl Deck. Pegasus, who witnessed that duel, was struck by inspiration and designed the Elemental HERO series, also centered around Fusion Summoning.
In other words, Illya and Elemental HERO were like two sides of the same legacy—Illya, a HERO in the truest sense.
"You actually know about that?" Hoshino asked in surprise.
This was information that should've been classified as Industrial Illusions' internal secret—Pegasus had only ever told Hoshino herself. Even Yugi, Kaiba, and Jonouchi didn't know.
"My biological father was a card designer at Industrial Illusions," Aster replied. "Before he passed away, he also participated in designing the HERO cards. That's why those memories left such a deep impression on me."
"…Why have you never mentioned this before?" Clara asked softly.
Clara, who had lived with Aster for years, was hearing this for the first time.
"My adoptive parents—and you, Sister—have all treated me so well," Aster said calmly.
"I didn't want to bring up painful memories and burden the family."
Resting his hand on his Deck, Aster declared firmly:
"This HERO Deck is the final power my father left behind—and also my strongest power! I'll use it to fight for the Phoenix family!"
"So that's how it is, Aster…" Clara murmured.
As someone who also inherited a Deck left behind after Keith's death, Clara understood Aster's feelings—and his devotion to HEROes—better than anyone.
"Watch closely. This is my HERO power! I activate the Spell Card Polymerization from my hand!"
Without any unnecessary setup, Aster immediately played the signature Fusion Spell of the HERO Deck.
"I fuse The Light – Hex-Sealed Fusion from my hand with Elemental HERO Sparkman—"
"You're using a card that can substitute Fusion Materials to fuse directly with Sparkman? So that's your play!" Jaden said admiringly.
"I use The Light – Hex-Sealed Fusion as a substitute for Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer! Fusion Summon—Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer!"
Corresponding to Jaden's ace monster, Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman—
Aster's ace monster, Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer, shone brilliantly, living up to the Phoenix name as radiant light flooded the courtyard.
[Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][FIRE][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2100]
["Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer" + "Elemental HERO Sparkman"]
Since one of its materials—Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer—is itself a Fusion Monster, normally summoning this card would require at least two Fusion Summons.
By using The Light – Hex-Sealed Fusion to replace Phoenix Enforcer and skipping straight to the final step, Aster executed his signature Shining Fusion strategy.
"Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer's effect: it gains 300 ATK for each 'Elemental HERO' card in my Graveyard, and it cannot be destroyed by battle!"
[Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer ATK 2500 → 2800]
Mash exclaimed in surprise,
"Shining Phoenix Enforcer's attack is equal to Illya in Heracles form!"