Everyone was in Chazz's room to watch Michael's duel with Aster.
Syrus: Do you think Michael will win?
Alexis: I know he can.
Bastion: We shouldn't underestimate Aster. After all, he did defeat Jaden.
Chazz: Against Master Sartorius' top pupil, Michael doesn't stand a chance. Once Aster beats him, he will see the light.
Lily: What are you thinking about Chazz?
Chazz: Oh, just excited about the duel.
Hassleberry: Yeah, I can't wait to see Aster get his keister whooped.
In the Kaiba Dome, Michael and Aster were getting ready for their match.
Employee: Mr. Shadows, it's time.
Michael: Good.
He made his way to the arena and stepped onto the lift platform.
Jean: Good evening dueling fans! Tonight, we have the potential match of the season! Aster Phoenix versus Michael Shadows. What are your thoughts Arthur?
Arthur: Well Jean, it's no secret that everyone's been looking forward to this duel since Michael called Aster out on live television. Who will reign victorious? I don't know, but I do know this is gonna be one heck of a duel.
Jean: Agreed. Now let's bring out our competitors!
The platforms rose up, bringing Aster and Michael to the surface.
Jean: Duelists, please cut and shuffle your opponent's deck.
Michael and Aster walked to the center of the arena and shuffled each other's decks.
Michael: Shuffle well Aster. Your career depends on it.
Aster: We'll see. Like I always say, you can't hide from destiny.
Michael: Well, I guess we'll see who destiny favors tonight.
Aster: I guess we will.
They finished shuffling and returned their decks to each other before walking back to their places.
Michael: Bring it Aster. If you want to win, you'd better not hold back.
Aster: Like I even need to give my all against you.
Both: Let's duel!
Aster: 4000 LP
Michael: 4000 LP
Aster: I'll go first, and I play Polymerization to fuse Elemental Heroes Burstinatrix and Avian to summon Elemental Hero Phoenix Enforcer in attack mode!
Level 6/Fire/Warrior
ATK 2100/DEF 1200
Aster: I'll place a card face-down and end my turn.
Michael: If you think that's going to beat me, you're dead wrong. My move! First I activate the effect of Genta, Gateman of Dark World in my hand. By sending this monster to my graveyard, I can add the field spell, The Gates of Dark World from my deck to my hand, which I'll now activate.
The field behind Michael glowed and a giant black gate appeared behind him.
Aster: Nice door.
Michael: And it's not just for show. While it's on the field, all fiend type monsters in play gain an additional 300 attack and defense, and once each turn I can banish a fiend type monster from my graveyard in order to discard a fiend from my hand and draw a new card.
Aster: Say what?
Michael: I banish Genta in order to discard Ceruli from my hand and draw a new card. Of course, that triggers both my monster's effects, summoning Ceruli to your field and Genta to mine.
Genta
Level 4/Dark/Fiend
ATK 1000-1300/DEF 1800-2100
Ceruli
Level 1/Dark/Fiend
ATK 100-400/DEF 300-600
Aster: What'd you give me this freak for?
Michael: To activate his second effect. You see Aster, when Ceruli is summoned by the effect of a Dark World card, his opponent has to discard a card from their hand, which means I'll discard my Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World.
Aster: Let me guess, which activates his effect?
Michael: You catch on quick. Since Lucent was discarded by an effect, he revives to my field.
Level 6/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2400-2700/DEF 0-300
Michael: And since he was discarded by your effect, I also get to summon a fiend type monster from my deck to either of our fields, so I summon Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World to my field in defense mode.
Level 4/Dark/Fiend
ATK 100-400/DEF 2100-2400
Aster: You may have more points than Phoenix Enforcer, but he can't be destroyed in battle.
Bastion: Three monsters and no normal summon? Could Michael be preparing?
Lily: I hope so.
Hassleberry: What are you all talking about?
Alexis: Just keep watching.
Michael: I sacrifice my three monsters to summon The Wicked Dreadroot!
Aster: What?!
Hassleberry: Sam Hill!
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK & DEF 4000
Jean: I don't believe my eyes! Michael Shadows has summoned one of the three Wicked God Cards!
Arthur: This is quite the unexpected turn of events! If Aster doesn't step up his game, he's finished.
Aster: There's no way! How do you have a card like that?
Michael: I said I would face you with my best cards, and I'm a man of my word. Due to Dreadroot's special ability, the attack and defense of all non-Divine-Beast monsters are halved.
Enforcer: 2100-1050 ATK/1200-600 DEF
Ceruli: 400-200 ATK/600-300 DEF
Michael: Now, attack Enforcer with Wicked Shadow Impact!
Dreadroot cloaked his fist in darkness and smashed Enforcer into the ground.
Aster: Due to Phoenix Enforcer's special ability, he can't be destroyed in battle.
Michael: Maybe so, but you still take damage from Dreadroot's attack.
Aster: 1050 LP
Michael: I'll end my battle phase and activate the Field Barrier continuous spell. With this in play, not only can my field spell not be destroyed, but neither of us can activate new field spells either. I'll set two cards and end my turn.
Aster: God card or not, I'll still beat you! I draw! First I switch Phoenix Enforcer to defense mode. Next I play the spell Pot of Greed, so I draw 2 more cards!
Michael: And I'm glad you did.
Aster: Why is that?
Michael: Because now I can activate the trap Talisman of Reversal. When you add cards to your hand outside the draw phase, I can use this card to draw until I have the same number of cards in my hand as you. Since you have 4 cards in your hand, I draw until I have 4 cards.
Aster: Fine. I play the spell Misfortune. With it, I can deal you damage equal to half the original attack points of one of your monsters, and I choose your Dreadroot, so say goodbye to 2000 of your life points.
Michael: You'll have to do better than that Aster. I play the trap Prevent and Draw. With it, the damage from your effect is halved and I draw 1 card.
Michael: 3000 LP
Jean: Unbelievable! Not only does Michael have a Wicked God on his field, but he's countered every move Aster's made so far and has replenished his hand in the process!
Arthur: At this rate Jean, it looks like Aster Phoenix has met his match.
Aster: I can't let him beat me. I play the spell Destiny Draw! With it, I can send a Destiny Hero in my hand to the graveyard to draw 2 cards, so I send Destiny Hero Disk Commander to the grave in order to draw 2 more cards. Next, I summon Destiny Hero Dunker in defense mode.
Level 4/Dark/Warrior
ATK 1200-600/DEF 1700-850
Aster: And now I activate his special ability! By sending a Destiny Hero in my hand to the graveyard, he can inflict 500 points of damage to you. I send Destiny Hero Double Dude from my hand to the graveyard to deal you 500 points of damage.
Michael: 2500 LP
Aster: Next, I play the spell Doctor D. By banishing Double Dude from my graveyard, I can special summon Disk Commander from my graveyard in defense mode.
Level 1/Dark/Warrior
ATK & DEF 300-150
Michael: That all?
Aster: Fraid not. You see when Disk Commander is special summoned from the graveyard, his special ability activates, letting me draw 2 cards. And now I sacrifice Ceruli, Dunker, and Disk Commander to special summon Destiny Hero Dogma in attack mode!
Level 8/Dark/Warrior
ATK 3400-1700/DEF 2400-1200
Michael: Am I supposed to be intimidated?
Aster: If it wasn't for his Field Barrier, I could activate my Clock Tower Prison. I end my turn.
Michael: My turn, I draw.
Aster: And now the effect of Dogma activates!
A purple stream of light came off of Dogma, striking Michael.
Michael: 2500-1250 LP
Michael: What was that?
Aster: During each of your standby phases, Dogma cuts your life points in half.
Bastion: Even against a Wicked God card, Aster is no joke.
Lily: Come on Michael, fight back!
Michael: Not a bad effect. I'll activate the effect of my Gate again, banishing Renge in order to discard Beiige and draw a new card. And since Beiige was discarded by an effect, he revives from my graveyard.
Level 4/Dark/Fiend
ATK 1600-950/DEF 1300-800
Michael: Next I activate the continuous spell Dark World Library. Once each turn, I can discard a Dark World monster to raise the attack points of the Dark World monsters on my field by 100 points for each of the discarded monster's levels.
Aster: But due to your god card, they'll only get half the boost.
Michael: That's all I need. I discard Sillva, and he's a level 5 monster.
Beiige: 950-1200 ATK
Michael: And since Sillva was discarded by an effect, he resummons himself from the grave.
Sillva
Level 5/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2300-1300/DEF 1400-850
Aster: Those monsters don't scare me.
Michael: They may not, but Library's second effect might.
Aster: What's that mean?
Michael: Due to the second effect of Dark World Library, when a fiend type monster is discarded by the effect of a Dark World card or an opponent's effect, I can discard a card to draw 2 new ones.
Aster: That all?
Michael: Not in the slightest. Since I discarded Goldd, Wu Lord of Dark World, he revives from the graveyard.
Level 5/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2300-1300/DEF 1400-850
Aster: Three monsters again?
Michael: And once again I sacrifice all three. Come forth, The Wicked Eraser!
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK & DEF ?
Aster: You have two?!
Michael: I said I wouldn't be holding back Aster. Due to Eraser's effect, he gains 1000 attack and defense points for each card on your field, and I count three.
Eraser: 0-3000 ATK/DEF
Aster: 3000 points?!
Michael: Eraser, destroy Dogma with Wicked Inferno Cannon!
Eraser charged a ball of black fire in his mouth before firing it at Dogma.
Jean: If this attack lands, Aster is finished!
Aster: I play the trap D Shield! This will switch Dogma to defense and then equip onto him, preventing him from being destroyed in battle.
Dogma crossed his arms and the fireball bounced off him harmlessly.
Michael: Not bad, but you're only postponing your defeat Aster. I place 1 card face-down and end my turn.
Aster: My turn. I draw! Negate Attack? This is no help. Well, he can't beat my monsters, but I can't take any chances. I place 1 card face-down and end my turn.
Michael: If that's all you can manage, you may as well give up now. I draw!
Aster: And during your standby phase, Dogma's effect activates.
Michael: 625 LP
Alexis: He's got less than a thousand life points left!
Michael: I play the trap The Forces of Darkness. This card lets me take two Dark World monsters in my graveyard and add them to my hand, so I return Goldd and Sillva to my hand. Next I play the Charge into a Dark World spell card. This lets me revive a level 4 or below fiend type monster from my graveyard by discarding a fiend type monster after it's revived. I summon back Beiige and then discard Broww, Huntsman of Dark World, allowing me to draw another card.
Aster: Give it up man. You can't beat my monsters.
Michael: We'll see. But first, I activate the effect of Library to discard Goldd in order to draw 2 new cards, which then allows Goldd to be revived. Now, I activate the spells Fissure to destroy your Phoenix Enforcer and Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your set card.
A crater opened up beneath Phoenix Enforcer, causing him to fall in while a tornado appeared on the field, destroying Aster's Negate Attack.
Aster: You still can't destroy Dogma, and since he's in defense mode, I'll take no damage if you attack!
Michael: Good thing I'm not finished yet. I activate the effect of my Gate field spell. By banishing Broww, I can discard Sillva in order to draw a new card, which also activates Sillva's effect.
Syrus: He has three monsters again.
Michael: This is the final turn Aster. I sacrifice Sillva, Goldd, and Beiige in order to summon the final Wicked God, The Wicked Avatar!
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK & DEF ?
Jean: I don't believe it! Michael Shadows has summoned all three Wicked God Cards!
Arthur: Jean, this is the most intense duel the Kaiba Dome has seen in years!
Michael: Avatar's attack and defense are always 1 point higher than the monster on the field with the highest attack other than himself, which in this case would be Dreadroot.
Avatar: ?-4001 ATK/DEF
Michael: Now I play the spell card Necromancy, which will summon four random monsters from your graveyard to your field in defense mode.
A bright light flashed from Aster's graveyard and Burstinatrix, Dunker, Avian, and Disk Commander appeared on his field.
Aster: Since Disk Commander was summoned from the graveyard, I draw 2 cards! I got Magical Stone Excavation! If I survive this turn, I can use it to get back Misfortune and win the duel.
Michael: Since there are more cards on your field, the power of Eraser and Avatar increase.
Eraser: 2000-6000 ATK/DEF
Avatar: 4001-6001 ATK/DEF
Michael: And next I place one card face-down and activate the continuous spell Temple of the Kings. With this card in play, I can activate 1 trap the same turn it was set each turn.
Aster: What good will that do you?
Michael: A lot, because it means I can activate the card I just set, and here it is: the trap Final Attack Orders!
Aster: No!
Michael: Afraid so. Due to this card's effect, all monsters on the field have to remain in face-up attack attack mode.
A red aura surrounded all of Aster's monsters before they all stood up.
Aster: But that means that-
Michael: This duel is over. Avatar! End this duel with Darkness Inferno Cannon!
Avatar morphed into a copy of Eraser and breathed a jet of black flames on Dogma.
Aster: 0 LP
Winner: Michael
Jean: The duel is over. We have a winner! Michael Shadows!
Aster: I don't believe it, I lost.
Michael: Time to pay up Aster. Hand over the Destiny Heroes.
Aster: What?
Michael: Remember, you signed the contract. You lost, so now you have to leave the league for the rest of the season and give me your Destiny Heroes.
Aster: I can't! I need these cards to bring justice to lawbreakers!
Michael: Do you even hear what you're saying? You're losing the cards your father made, and you're concerned because you've lost a tool?
Aster: I-
Michael: You put them on the line without a second thought, and you don't care that the last thing you have of your father's is gone, just that you've lost a means to an end. If that's how you feel, you don't deserve to have them.
Aster: You put your deck on the line too!
Michael: Yes, but unlike you, my cards are important to me. We share a bond.
Aster: Give me a break. You're as crazy as Jaden.
Michael: You still don't understand. Your actions have caused your own monsters to suffer. Open your mind, Aster.
Aster closed his eyes and concentrated, and when he did, he could sense an immense feeling of sorrow coming from his deck.
Aster: The Destiny Heroes… are sad?
Michael: Maybe now you understand.
Aster: This whole time, I've just been using them as tools. Father, I'm sorry. I don't deserve to keep your cards.
Aster removed his deck from his duel disk and handed it to Michael as his eyes began to water.
Michael: Aster, maybe there's hope for you yet.
Michael turned and left the arena while Sartorius came onto the field and led Aster away, moving past the press to avoid answering any questions. When they couldn't get to Aster, they swarmed to Michael.
Reporter: Mr. Shadows, a moment of your time please.
Michael: I'm available.
Reporter: Mr. Shadows, how did you get the Wicked God cards?
Michael: I'm afraid I can't reveal that. However, I can tell you that I won't be using them in the pro league anymore.
Reporter: Why not? With cards like that, you'd win every match for sure.
Michael: Which is why I don't want to use them. What point is there to dueling if no one can challenge you?
Reporter: I see. Now that you've defeated Aster, what do you plan to do now?
Michael: Actually, I'm going to be leaving the pro league for the rest of the season. I've been asked to help out at Duel Academy.
Reporter: What do you mean by help out?
Michael: The school is starting a new program where students have the opportunity to get experience facing pro duelists, and I've been asked to be the first pro.
Reporter: I see. Well, Duel Academy is certainly going to be getting a fine teacher.
Michael: Thank you. I'm afraid that's all the time I have. Any further questions will be fielded by my agent.
A woman with a black briefcase walked up and began talking to the reporters while Michael walked to the locker room. He sat down and pulled out the glasses he used to examine Jaden before looking at Aster's deck, his theory confirmed.
Michael: Well, that answers that question. Now the big question is, does Aster know what he's involved with?
Hey everyone. I hope you're all doing well. As my Christmas gift to you all, I'm uploading a few chapters at once, so I hope you all enjoy. No matter what holiday you celebrate, I hope you all have a great time with your friends and family, and stay warm out there.