Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"The effect of the Flash Flame Wingman is that for every [Elemental HERO] card in the graveyard, his ATK increases by 300."

In a deep voice, Jaden Yuki continued, explaining the effects of the hero: "At this moment, there are four monsters in my graveyard: Winged Man, Burst Girl, Bubble Man, and Clay Man. Therefore, Flash Flame Winged Man's attack power will increase by 1200 points!"

(【Elemental Hero - Shining Flame Winged Man】 Attack Power: 2500→3700)

"Hehehe...Did you summon a Shining Flame Winged Man that rivals the Shining Phoenix?" Edward blinked and said with a smile, "But...in terms of attack power, the Shining Phoenix is ​​still higher!"

Edward's Shining Phoenix has an attack power of 4300 after the buff.

Meanwhile, Jaden Yuki's Flash Flame Wingman has an attack power of 3700 points after receiving the buff.

Looking at the numbers alone, Jaden Yuki's heroes are indeed no match for Edward.

but……

"Don't rush, Edward... my strategy isn't over yet!" Jaden Yuki said, revealing his last card: "Next, I'll target Shining Flame Wingman and activate the Equip Spell Card [Beloved Hero] from my hand!"

Above the card, there is the figure of a winged fireman using his finishing move, illuminated by Joseph.

At this moment, Jaden Yuki chose to equip this crucial card, which was enough to change the situation, on Shining Flame Wingman.

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[My Beloved Hero]

(Equip Magic Card)

Effect: Can only be equipped to a Level 5 or higher "Hero" monster. The second effect of this card can only be used once per turn.

①: If there is a card in your field zone, the equipped monster gains ATK equal to its original DEF and cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects.

②: This effect can only be activated at the start of either player's Battle Phase. Select 1 Field Spell Card from your hand or Deck to activate this effect.

③: When the equipped monster destroys an opponent's monster by attack, you can send this card to the Graveyard to activate this effect. That attacking monster can only attack once more.

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"...Your beloved hero? Could it be..."

"That's right! I'll go straight into battle and have the Flash Flame Wingman attack the Flash Phoenix Man!" With his arm outstretched, Jaden Yuki resolutely gave the almost suicidal order to the hero in front of him.

However, upon seeing this "foolish" behavior, Edward did not show the expected smile. Instead, he frowned slightly: "Yuki Judai... you're really lucky! In this situation, you actually managed to find a way out..."

"Hehehe...Thanks for the compliment!"

Wiping his nose, Jaden nodded in agreement with Edward's words. At the very moment of declaring his attack, Jaden waved his arm again and shouted, "At this instant, the effect of the Equip Spell Card—[Beloved Hero]—activates! I can activate one Field Spell Card from my hand or Deck!"

"Is it coming? An illegal building..."

Looking at the situation on the field, Yusei couldn't help but mutter to himself.

In this situation, the only Field Spell Card in Jaden Yuki's deck that meets the activation conditions is the Hero's Stage - [Skyscraper]!

"Even heroes have their own stage. I activate the Field Spell Card from my deck—[Skyscraper]!"

As expected, Jaden Yuki set up his Duel Disk and placed that all-too-familiar illegal structure in the designated area.

Then, as skyscrapers continued to rise, the surrounding scenery transformed into a bustling metropolis under the night sky.

"When the effect of [Beloved Hero] is activated, if there is a card in your Field Zone, the equipped monster gains its ATK equal to its original DEF, and... cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects."

Jaden Yuki activated the Field Spell Card not for the 1000-point attack bonus.

His goal is to replicate Yusei's previous actions, trigger the effect of the Equip Magic Card, and thus give Shining Flame Wingman's attack power a bonus equal to its original defense value.

The original defense of the Flash Flame Winged Man is 2100 points, which means that... with the [Beloved Hero] equipped, his attack power will be greatly increased again, thus rising to a higher level!

(【Elemental Hero - Shining Flame Winged Man】 Attack Power: 3700→5800)

"Attack! The Flash Flame Winged Man!!!"

"Charge, Shining Phoenix!"

The two sides sounded their attack horns simultaneously, and the dragon and the phoenix clashed once again.

With similar effects and material requirements, the two monsters entered into the much-anticipated battle of projectiles.

However, in the end, the Flash Flame Wingman, whose attack power had been greatly enhanced, still had the upper hand.

After a brief stalemate, the Phoenix Flash, having reached its limit, was sent flying backward and crashed into the building behind it.

Edward: "Goo... Shiny Phoenix!"

Jaden Yuki: "Ed... although your monster can't be destroyed by battle, you still have to bear this damage!"

5800 minus 4300 equals 1500 points of damage.

Ed, who was illuminated by the light, had his health points reduced to less than 1000.

It's just a step away from being a flickering candle in the wind.

(Ed Phoenix LP: 2100→600)

"Hehehe... I'm so happy, Edward!"

Having finished his attack, Jaden Yuki clenched his fists, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "This is the first time I've ever witnessed such a thrilling battle between heroes!"

Shiny Phoenix and Shiny Flame Winged Man.

Two monsters, sharing the same origin but following different paths, clash with each other with their combined convictions.

Witnessing this scene, Jaden Yuki couldn't help but show a deeply emotional expression.

After all, his previous duels with Yusei had always been one-sided, with him being completely outmatched. He couldn't possibly understand the feeling of being evenly matched like he was now...

461 The Undying Phoenix, Destroyer, Descends!

"Heh...you said...you feel very happy?"

As Yuki Judai's optimistic and positive words echoed in her ears, the girl's eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold aura began to emanate from her: "...Don't make me laugh, Yuki Judai!"

"Hey?"

"The destiny of heroes to fight is not something to be happy about!"

With her brows furrowed and an overwhelming sadness on her face, the girl waved her arm, dispersing the smoke left from the battle before her: "Yuki Jaden, the weight of the cross a hero carries, and that extreme pain and hatred... do you really understand these complex emotions? You, with your happy and fulfilling life and optimistic personality, surely cannot comprehend the sorrow in my heart?"

"Pain and hatred... are those the traits of a hero?" Jaden Yuki couldn't help but ask, harboring considerable doubt about Edward's sudden words.

Shouldn't duels bring joy and laughter to people?

But why is it that I only feel a lot of negative emotions from Edward...?

What does a duel mean to her? And what kind of existence is a hero?

"Pain and hatred, that is the powerful force that sustains heroes."

Changing the subject abruptly, seemingly not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, Edward narrowed his eyes and looked at the bewildered Jaden Yuki: "Heh... This is infuriating! Someone like you who only uses heroes because he admires how cool they are!"

"What...I..."

"What I need is... true heroes born to survive in this cruel world!"

"A true hero? That is..."

"Watch closely, Jaden Yuki... At this very moment, the gears of fate have begun to turn!"

With that, Edward seized control of the turn, waving his arm and suddenly drawing a new card from the top of the deck: "My turn, draw!"

Turning his arm over, looking at the card he had just drawn, Ed's lips slowly curled into a smile.

Ah... Fate, it seems, was predetermined.

Yuki Judai: "Ed...you..."

Edward: "At this moment... the Spell Card [Fusion Destiny] is activated! This card's effect is—to use monsters from the hand or Deck as materials to perform a Fusion Summon of a [Destiny HERO] monster!"

Everyone: "...Destiny Heroes?! Deck Fusion?"

"Hero of Destiny... what exactly is that?"

"A card I've never heard of before, and I've never heard of that kind of hero?!"

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【Fusion Destiny】

(Normal Spell Card)

Effect: You can only activate 1 card with this name per turn.

Send the Fusion Material Monsters listed on a Fusion Monster Card from your hand or Deck to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster that used a "Destin HERO" monster as Fusion Material from your Extra Deck.

The monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase of the next turn.

After this card is activated, you cannot Special Summon monsters other than DARK "Hero" monsters until the end of this turn.

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Above the card art are the figures of [Destiny Hero Doctrine] and [Destiny Hero Blood Demon-D], both bathed in light, while behind them, the black phantom of their fused form—[Dragon Knight D-Final]—can be faintly seen.

Clearly, this card is hinting at the holder to use its effect to use the two older brothers of Destiny HERO as materials to fuse and summon the Level 10 [Dragon Knight D-End], and then use the [Dragon Knight D-End]'s card-destroying and reviving effect to avoid its own side effects.

But... in reality, this card has another, better, and more widespread use.

That is—one card to slack off!

Yusei: "Chao! [Fusion of Fate]... So you're going to start giving up now?"

Others might not know, but Yusei, being a time traveler, was extremely familiar with this card.

Accurately pile up graves, and it's simple and easy to find.

This card, when paired with the Big Green Worm from Link 2, can summon the Destroyer Phoenix from the Extra Deck at any time, putting immense pressure on the opponent and becoming a must-have mini-system in various decks.

This even spawned memes like, "Are you crazy?! Every deck includes Fusion Phoenix, right?", "The true big brother of the heroes has finally returned to his home turf...", and "It would be stronger if you removed the other heroes..."—memes that are both hilarious and absurd.

"Based on the effect of [Fusion Fate], I send [Fate HERO Rush Man] and [Fate HERO Divinity Man] from my deck to the graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!"

Holding the magic card high above his head, Edward's eyes gleamed with unwavering determination: "Two heroes who shattered the rock of fate, now unite as one and reign supreme over the dark future!"

"...Fusion Summon! Come on! [Destiny Hero: Phoenix of Destruction]!!!"

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