Hikaru Amagi?

Syrus had never seen Elemental HERO Stratos before. When he saw Aster Phoenix Fusion Summon a monster with the same Attack as Flame Wingman, he felt relieved.

"Elemental HEROes, huh? I'm pretty familiar with those!"

He glanced at his set card.

It was the Trap Card, Magic Cylinder!

A powerful Trap that could negate an attack and deal damage equal to that monster's Attack!

With that on the field...

"I Normal Summon, Elemental HERO Stratos." Aster glanced at the face-down card and revealed the HERO in his hand. "Come on! Stratos!"

Whoosh!

Accompanied by a strong gust of wind, a Stratos unlike the one in Jaden's memories appeared on the field.

[Elemental HERO Stratos] Level 4│WIND│Warrior│1800 ATK

"Damn, it really is Stratos, Syrus is in danger!"

"Monster effect activates," Aster said calmly. "When Elemental HERO Stratos is Normal or Special Summoned, I can choose one of two effects to activate.

One: Add 1 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand.

Two: destroy Spells or Traps on the field up to the number of other 'HERO' monsters I control!"

"Huh?!"

"I destroy the opponent's face-down card!"

A fierce wind blew past, lifting Syrus's Trap Card and revealing its true identity.

"Magic Cylinder, huh?"

Aster thought that was too obvious, this student was evidently waiting to bait an attack.

"Whoa, what a strong monster." Bastion and Chazz on the platform were stunned by the effect Aster just announced. Even though no mighty Elemental HEROes were circulating on the market, their Duelist instincts told them this was an outrageous card.

Searching for any HERO? And even blowing up backrow if needed? Plus, a base Attack of 1800?

"Battle. Phoenix Enforcer, Attack!"

Phoenix Enforcer leapt up and kicked Truckroid, in a flash of fire, shattering it.

"Next, Stratos- Attack directly," Aster said with a hint of boredom.

"Waaah!" Stratos howled like a storm, blasting Syrus off the ground, his hair now disheveled.

[Syrus, LP: 4000 → 2200]

"You alright, Senpai?" Aster waved theatrically.

"Ah, I-I'm fine, haha~" Syrus scrambled up when Aster addressed him, coughed once, and laughed loudly as if nothing happened.

Aster raised an eyebrow.

He nonchalantly set a card, "Then I Set a card and end my turn."

"Heh!" Syrus coughed again, brushed off the dust, and took on a commander-like pose.

He placed his hand on his Deck. "Freshman, don't think this gives you the upper hand! A Duelist can do anything!"

"Hm," Aster nodded lightly.

He agreed with that theory.

But... you gotta show something first.

"This is bad." Jaden watched the Duel and couldn't help shaking his head. "Syrus hasn't realized it yet."

"Not only that, he seems to be getting reckless," Bastion said awkwardly.

Syrus drew a card.

In this case, if he attacked with Submarineroid and used its effect to go into Defense Position, then waited for follow-ups, he might have had a safer play.

Even so, he couldn't back down in front of a freshman!

"Heh heh heh, rookie, watch closely! Our Polymerization Club's power activates the Spell Card, Vehicroid Connection Zone!"

A massive three-way junction suddenly appeared on the field, and three different vehicles drove in from three directions.

"This is a Fusion Spell Card exclusively for Vehicroids!" he said excitedly. "I send Fusion Materials listed on a Vehicroid Fusion Monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon one from the Extra Deck!

The monster Summoned this way can't be destroyed by card effects, and its effects cannot be negated!"

"I fuse Steamroid, Drillroid, and Submarineroid!"

"Fusion Summon, Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill!"

With his shout, the three different Roids raced toward the center of the junction. Accompanied by mechanical noises, the robots combined into a massive drill that burst from underground.

[Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill] Level 8│EARTH│Machine│3000 ATK

"Whoa, a monster with Attack equal to Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Jaden exclaimed.

"But—" Chazz shook his head. "Too bad he didn't hear our earlier conversation; otherwise, he'd know Phoenix Enforcer can't be destroyed by battle."

Bastion nodded regretfully. "Well, it makes sense. Syrus probably didn't recognize Aster as a pro Duelist. Thinking he was the more experienced one is understandable, I guess."

Even though the Duel hadn't gone further yet, everyone could see where it was headed.

No helping it, Syrus was at too much of a disadvantage.

"Battle! Jumbo Drill, Attack Phoenix Enforcer!!"

Syrus roared in excitement.

Aster glanced at his face-down card.

'Forget it.'

Boom!

[Aster, LP: 4000 → 3100]

As the smoke cleared, Phoenix Enforcer still stood on the field.

"Huh? Why?"

"Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer's effect: it can't be destroyed by battle."

"Ah!"

Aster sighed internally. He couldn't help feeling like this was a waste of time. "If Senpai has no further plays, then it's my turn."

"Draw."

He glanced at the card.

'Hmm, Sparkman?'

"Alright then, once again, I activate the Spell Card, Polymerization! I fuse the Phoenix Enforcer on the field with Elemental HERO Sparkman in my hand!"

"Ah! That Fusion material," Jaden recognized it right away.

"Come on!" Aster pointed to the ground. "Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer!"

Countless armor plates gathered under the crackle of lightning and merged onto Phoenix Enforcer, transforming into plated gear that equipped him.

[Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer] Level 8│FIRE│Warrior│2500 ATK

"Shining Phoenix Enforcer, don't tell me, he's like Shining Flare Wingman." Syrus's face turned grim.

"You guessed right, Senpai. Shining Phoenix Enforcer gains 300 Attack for each Elemental HERO in the Graveyard."

"Ah! Crap!"

No need to count. Syrus knew it already outclassed his Jumbo Drill by a lot!

[Syrus, LP: 2200 → 0]

"Waaaah!" With two HEROes attacking, Syrus was swiftly defeated, flattened beneath the duel projection.

Aster sighed.

On the other side, Jaden rushed over shouting, "Syrus, are you okay?!"

"Jadeeeennn." Syrus was teary-eyed. He never imagined losing so badly to a freshman.

"Can't be helped. After all, your opponent is Aster Phoenix."

'Aster Phoenix?' Syrus looked over at Aster, who was fixing his uniform without a hint of embarrassment, no shame at all for beating his senior.

"Chazz, Hikaru, you said his name is Aster Phoenix?"

'Hmm? What?'

Aster's hand froze as he packed his bag.

'Hikaru?'

'Amagi Hikaru?

'...?...!?...Huh???!'