It was the day of Michael's duel with Aster, and everyone was in Chazz's room to watch the big match. Syrus asked the others if they thought Michael could win, and Alexis assured him Michael would win, but Bastion pointed out that Aster did manage to defeat Jaden. "Against Master Sartorius' top pupil, Michael doesn't stand a chance. Once Aster beats him, he will see the light," Chazz thought to himself.
Lily asked Chazz what he was thinking about, and Chazz said he was just excited about the duel, and Hassleberry said he couldn't wait to see Aster lose. Meanwhile in the Kaiba Dome, Michael and Aster were getting ready for their match, and two of the stadium staff said it was time for their duel, and the two duelists began heading to the arena.
"Good evening dueling fans! Tonight, we have the potential match of the season! Aster Phoenix versus Michael Shadows. What are your thoughts, Arthur?" Jean asked as he turned to his co-commentator. "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," Arthur answered.
Jean agreed, saying it was time to bring out the duelists before the platforms rose up, bringing Aster and Michael to the surface. Jean called for them to cut and shuffle their opponent's decks, the pair walking to the center of the field before handing each other their decks. "Shuffle well Aster. Your career depends on it," Michael warned, and Aster just scoffed. "We'll see. Like I always say, you can't hide from destiny," he responded.
Michael said they would see who destiny favored tonight before they both finished shuffling and returned to their sides of the field. "Bring it Aster. If you want to win, you'd better not hold back," Michael advised as he inserted his deck into his duel disk, Aster doing the same and saying he wouldn't need to give his all to beat him.
Aster: 4000 LP
Michael: 4000 LP
"I'll go first, and I play Polymerization to fuse Elemental Heroes Burstinatrix and Avian to summon Elemental Hero Phoenix Enforcer in attack mode!" Aster shouted.
Level 6/Fire/Warrior
ATK 2100/DEF 1200
Aster then set two cards and ended his turn. "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," Michael said as the field behind him glowed and a giant black gate appeared behind him.
"While my gate is 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. 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," Michael explained.
Genta
Level 4/Dark/Fiend
ATK 1000-1300/DEF 1800-2100
Ceruli
Level 1/Dark/Fiend
ATK 100-400/DEF 300-600
"And now Ceruli's second effect activates. 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," Michael explained, Aster guessing that his monster activates its effect now. "You catch on quick. Since Lucent was discarded by an effect, he revives to my field," Michael informed.
Level 6/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2400-2700/DEF 0-300
"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 pointed out that even though Lucent had more attack points than Phoenix Enforcer, Phoenix Enforcer can't be destroyed in battle. Bastion noted that Michael had three monsters on his field and hadn't normal summoned yet, wondering if Michael was using those cards, Lily saying she hoped he was.
Hassleberry asked what they were talking about, and Alexis told him to keep watching. "Get ready Aster. I sacrifice all three of my monsters, in order to call forth a god. Descend and wreak destruction, The Wicked Dreadroot!" Michael shouted, much to the shock of Aster and everyone in the audience.
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK 4000/DEF 4000
"I don't believe my eyes! Michael Shadows has summoned one of the three Wicked God Cards!" Jean exclaimed, Arthur adding that if Aster didn't step up his game, he was done for. Aster demanded to know how Michael got his hands on Dreadroot, and Michael simply said that he promised to use his best cards, and that he was just staying true to his word. "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," Michael explained as Dreadroot began emitting a dark aura.
Enforcer: 2100-1050 ATK/1200-600 DEF
Ceruli: 400-200 ATK/600-300 DEF
"Now Dreadroot, attack Enforcer with Wicked Shadow Impact!" Michael shouted before Dreadroot cloaked his fist in darkness and smashed Enforcer into the ground. Aster said Enforcer can't be destroyed in battle, even with a god, but Michael pointed out that damage still went through.
Aster: 1050 LP
"Since I took damage, I activate the trap Shock Draw, so I draw one card for every 1000 points of damage I just took, so I draw two cards," Aster explained. Michael ended his battle phase and activated his Field Barrier continuous spell, telling Aster that due to his spell, not only could his field spell not be destroyed, but new field spells couldn't be activated either. Michael then placed two cards face-down and ended his turn.
"God card or not, I'll still beat you! I draw! And I activate Pot of Greed, so I draw two more cards," Aster said, but once he did, Michael revealed his set Talisman of Reversal, explaining that since Aster added cards to his hand outside of the draw phase, he could draw until he had the same number of cards in his hand as Aster, drawing five more cards.
"I activate Graceful Charity, so I draw three cards and then discard two from my hand. Next, I play the spell Over Destiny, so now I choose a Destiny Hero in my graveyard, like my Double Dude, and then I can summon a Destiny Hero from my deck whose level is less than or equal to half the level of the monster in my graveyard. Since Double Dude is level six, I can summon a level three or lower monster, so I summon my Captain Tenacious in defense mode," Aster explained.
Level 3/Dark/Warrior
ATK 800-400/DEF 800-400
"Next, I activate the spell Doctor D, so by banishing Double Dude from my graveyard, I can summon the Destiny Hero - Disk Commander from my graveyard in defense mode."
Level 1/Dark/Warrior
ATK 300-150/DEF 300-150
"And due to Disk Commander's effect, since he was special summoned from my graveyard, I can draw two cards from my deck. Next, I sacrifice Disk Commander, Captain Tenacious, and Ceruli to special summon Destiny Hero - Dogma in attack mode!"
Level 8/Dark/Warrior
ATK 3400-1700/DEF 2400-1200
"Am I supposed to be intimidated?" Michael asked condescendingly. "I'm not done just yet. I summon Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude in defense mode," Aster declared.
Level 4/Dark/Warrior
ATK 1400-700/DEF 1600-800
"And now I activate Diamond Dude's special ability. Once each turn, I can reveal the top card of my deck, and if that card is a normal spell, I can send it to the graveyard to activate it on my next turn. Anything else is sent to the bottom of my deck," Aster explained before he revealed his top card, his Destiny Draw spell card.
"Since it's a spell, it goes to my graveyard. Next, I play the spell Reflect Energy. By sacrificing Diamond Dude, my remaining monsters can attack you directly this turn, so I'll have Dogma attack you directly," Aster said as Dogma fired a purple blast of energy at Michael. "Sorry Aster, but I activate my Negate Attack trap card, so Dogma's attack is canceled and your battle phase ends," Michael said as an energy barrier formed in front of him, blocking Dogma's attack.
"Grr, I change Phoenix Enforcer to defense mode and place two cards face-down to end my turn," Aster said. Michael started his turn, but when he did, Aster said for Dogma to activate its effect, a purple stream of light coming off the monster and striking Michael.
Michael: 2000 LP
Michael asked what happened, and Aster explained that Dogma's effect halves his opponent's life points during each of their standby phases. "Not a bad effect. I activate Double Spell, so by sending my Dark World Puppetry spell card to my graveyard, I can activate a spell card from your graveyard, and I choose Graceful Charity," Michael said before he drew three cards, looking over his hand before sending two of his cards to his graveyard. "And since the monsters I just discarded were Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, and Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, they're revived to my field."
Sillva
Level 5/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2300-1300/DEF 1400-850
Goldd
Level 5/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2300-1300/DEF 1400-850
"Next, I activate the effect of my field spell, so I banish Genta from my graveyard to discard Snoww, Unlight of Dark World, and draw a new card. Next, Genta's effect causes him to be special summoned, and due to Snoww's effect, I can add a non-Snoww Dark World card from my deck to my hand, and I choose Dark World Lightning. Next, I sacrifice Genta, Sillva, and Goldd. I offer these three souls as tribute to call forth a god. Descend and bring ruin to my foe, The Wicked Eraser!"
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK ?/DEF ?
"You have two?!" Aster exclaimed, and Michael reminded him that wouldn't be holding back before telling him that Eraser gains 1000 attack and defense for every card on Aster's field, and he currently had four cards on his field.
Eraser: 0-4000 ATK/DEF
"Eraser, destroy Dogma with Wicked Inferno Cannon!" Michael shouted before Eraser charged a ball of black fire in his mouth and fired it at Dogma. "I activate Draining Shield! Your attack is negated and I gain life points equal to Eraser's attack points!" Aster shouted as Eraser's attack fizzled out.
Aster: 5050 LP
Eraser: 4000-3000 ATK/DEF
Michael ordered Dreadroot to attack Dogma, but Aster revealed his D Shield trap, Dogma taking a defensive stance and pushing back against Dreadroot's attack. "Well, if the duel ended this fast, it wouldn't be interesting. I place four cards face-down and end my turn," Michael concluded.
"My move. And since Diamond Dude sent it to my graveyard last turn, I can activate the effect of Destiny Draw, so I draw two cards from my deck. Next, I activate my Misfortune spell card, and with it, you take damage equal to half your Dreadroot's original attack points," Aster said. "Dreadroot's attack points are 4000, so half of that is 2000, which is exactly how many life points Michael has left!" Bastion exclaimed.
"Don't think so Aster. I activate my Dark Deal trap card, so by giving up a thousand life points, I can change the effect of your spell to make me discard a random card from my hand, of course, I'm only holding one card," Michael said as he placed the card in his hand into his graveyard.
Michael: 1000 LP
Lily breathed out a sigh of relief, thankful Michael had evaded defeat. "Sorry Aster, but it looks like I'm still in this duel, and since your spell made me discard Brrow, Huntsman of Dark World, I can draw two cards from my deck," Michael explained. "I'll activate my Dark Door continuous spell, so we can both only attack with one monster during our battle phases. Next, I'll place one card face-down and end my turn," Aster said. "My face-down card is Spell of Pain, so if he finds a way to damage me, I can turn it back on him and win," he thought to himself. Michael started his turn, only for Dogma to blast him again.
Michael: 500 LP
"He's only got 500 life points left! If Michael can't mount an offensive this turn, he may lose!" Hassleberry exclaimed. "I'll start with my trap card, The Forces of Darkness. This card lets me choose two Dark World monsters in my graveyard and add them to my hand, and I choose Snoww and Lucent," Michael explained.
"Next, I activate my Dark Eruption spell card, and with it, I can choose a dark attribute monster in my graveyard that has 1500 or fewer attack points and add it to my hand, and the monster I chose is Broww. Next, I place one card face-down and activate the spell Card Destruction, so we both discard our entire hands and draw the same number of cards we discarded," he continued as he placed his hand into the graveyard, Aster doing the same before they both redrew.
"And now the effects of Lucent, Broww, and Snoww activate, so first, Lucent is revived. Second, I choose a Dark World card in my deck and add it to my hand, and I choose Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World. And finally, I draw a card. Well Aster, looks like I've just about assembled the pieces for my victory," Michael said, but Aster said he was just bluffing.
"We'll see. But for now, I activate my set Dark World Lightning. Thanks to it, your face-down card is destroyed," Michael informed as a blast of purple lightning shot from his spell, destroying Aster's set Spell of Pain. "Next, I have to discard one card, but since the card I'm discarding is Grapha, your Phoenix Enforcer is also destroyed," Michael continued as Grapha appeared, breathing a jet of gray flames on Phoenix Enforcer, obliterating him. "Next, thanks to Grapha's effect, he can be special summoned from the graveyard by returning a Dark World monster on my field to my hand, so I return Lucent to my hand to revive Grapha."
Level 8/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2700-1500/DEF 1800-1050
"Next, I reveal my face-down Allure of Darkness spell card. With it, I can draw two cards as long as I banish a dark attribute monster from my hand after I draw, but if I can't, my entire hand goes to the graveyard," Michael said before he looked at the cards he drew and saw they were the last ones he needed. "Looks like our duel is nearing its end, Aster. Due to Allure's effect, I banish Lucent from my hand. Next, I activate the effect of Dark World Puppetry in my graveyard, so by banishing it, I return my banished Lucent to my hand. And since I have him back, I activate the spell Overflowing Treasure. This card increases the attack points of one monster on the field by 500 for every card in either of our hands, and I choose Eraser," Michael informed.
Eraser: 3000-6500 ATK
"Next, I activate Charge into a Dark World. This card lets me revive a lever four or lower fiend monster from my graveyard as long as I discard a card afterward. I'll revive Broww and then discard Lucent, so he's revived as well."
Broww
Level 3/Dark/Fiend
ATK 1400-850/DEF 800-550
"Prepare yourself Aster," Michael said as he held up a single card from his hand. "Y-you can't possibly mean," Aster said in disbelief, and Michael flipped the card around, revealing the final Wicked God card. "I sacrifice Grapha, Broww, and Lucent. I offer these three souls as tribute to call forth a god. Descend and cover the land in darkness, The Wicked Avatar!" Michael shouted as black sphere appeared above him.
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK ?/DEF ?
"Due to Avatar's effect, his attack and defense points become one point higher than the attack points of the monster on the field that has the most attack points, and that monster is Eraser," Michael said as Avatar changed shape, morphing into a copy of Eraser.
Avatar: ?-6501 ATK/DEF
"Next, I activate the spell Necromancy, so four random monsters are special summoned from your graveyard to your field in defense mode," he continued as a light shone in Aster's graveyard and Diamond Dude, Disk Commander, Burstinatrix, and Avian appeared on his field.
Burstinatrix
Level 3/Fire/Warrior
ATK 1200-600/DEF 800-400
Avian
Level 3/Wind/Warrior
ATK 1000-500/DEF 1000-500
"And since there are four more cards on your field, Eraser and Avatar gain 4000 more points," Michael pointed out.
Eraser: 6500-10500 ATK/3000-7000 DEF
Avatar: 6501-10501 ATK/DEF
"Since Disk Commander was special summoned from the graveyard, I can draw two cards from my deck," Aster said as he picked up two more cards, seeing one of them was his Magical Stone Excavation. "If I can survive this turn, I can use Stone Excavation to get back Misfortune from my graveyard and win the duel." he thought to himself, confident he could win.
"From my hand, I activate the Extra Boost spell card. With it, one monster of my choice gains attack points equal to half of its defense, however the monster that receives this effect will be sent to the graveyard at the end of this turn, so I choose to boost Eraser's attack points," Michael explained.
Eraser: 10500-14000 ATK
Avatar: 10501-14001 ATK
"That was a foolish move. There's no point in boosting your attack points if all my monsters are in defense mode, so all you're going to do is lose your monster," Aster mocked, but Michael just smirked. "Believe me Aster, I don't have to worry about that. I activate the spell Stop Defense, so your Dogma is forced into attack mode," Michael said as Dogma uncrossed his arms and stood up. Aster told Michael to just end it, but Michael said he wasn't just going to end it, he was going to deliver a crushing blow unlike any Aster had seen before.
"I activate Brave Attack! By not conducting my battle phase normally, this card combines all my monsters' attack points into one for a single strike, so I'll focus their attack points onto Dreadroot," Michael said as Avatar and Eraser began feeding their energy into Dreadroot.
Dreadroot: 4000-32001 ATK
"His attack points are over 30000?!" Aster exclaimed. "Now, end this duel with Darkness Trinity Burst!" Michael shouted as Avatar and Eraser breathed black flames onto Dreadroot's fists, the monster combining the fire with his own energy before unleashing an enormous blast at Dogma, shaking the entire arena.
Aster: 0 LP
Winner: Michael
"The duel is over. We have a winner! Michael Shadows!" Jean announced. Aster dropped to his knees, in total shock that he lost. Michael walked over to Aster and told him to hand over the Destiny Heroes. Aster asked him what he was talking about, and Michael reminded him of the contract.
"You lost, so now you have to leave the league for the rest of the season and give me your Destiny Heroes," Michael said, but Aster said Michael couldn't take them, because he needed them to get revenge for his father. "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?" Michael asked.
Aster tried to say something, but Michael told him that he put the cards on the line without a second thought and that he didn't care that he was losing the last memento he had of his father, but that he was upset he was losing a means to an end. "If that's how you feel, you don't deserve to have them," Michael continued, but Aster said he had put his deck on the line in their duel as well.
Michael admitted he had done the same, but unlike Aster, he shared a bond with his deck, but Aster said he was as crazy as Jaden. "You still don't understand. Your actions have caused your own monsters to suffer. Open your heart to the Destiny Heroes, Aster," Michael advised, and Aster rolled his eyes before he closed his eyes and concentrated on his deck, and when he did, he could sense an immense feeling of sorrow coming from his cards.
"The Destiny Heroes… are sad? This whole time, I've just been using them as tools. Father, I'm sorry. I don't deserve to keep your cards," Aster said as removed his deck from his duel disk and handed it to Michael, his eyes beginning to water. Michael saw that there may be hope for Aster yet and he turned and left the arena as Sartorius came rushing in, leading Aster away, moving swiftly past the press to avoid answering any questions.
When they couldn't get to Aster, they swarmed to Michael. "Mr. Shadows, a moment of your time, please," one of the reporters requested, and Michael agreed to talk to them. The reporter asked Michael how he got the Wicked God cards, but Michael said he couldn't answer that question and said he wouldn't be using them in the pro leagues further as it would remove any potential challenge from his duels.
"I see. Now that you've defeated Aster, what do you plan to do now?" the reporter asked, and Michael said he was actually leaving the league for the rest of the season. "I've been asked to help out at Duel Academy. 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," Michael informed before saying his agent would field further questions, a woman in a black suit stepping forward to answer the reporters' questions.
Michael walked to the locker room, pulling out the glasses he used to examine Jaden before looking at Aster's deck, the white aura surrounding the deck confirming his theory. "Well, that answers that question. Now the big question is, does Aster know what he's involved with?" Michael wondered to himself.