Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

[Destiny Hero Destroys the Phoenix People]

(Warrior/Dark/8-star/Attack: 2500/Defense: 2100)

Blending/Effects:

6-star or higher "Hero" monsters + "Destiny Hero" monsters

The second and third effects of this card can each be used once per turn.

①: The ATK of monsters on your opponent's field is reduced by 200 for each "Hero" card in your Graveyard.

②: Can be activated during your or your opponent's turn. Destroy 1 card on your field and 1 other card on the field.

③: This effect can be activated if this card is destroyed by battle or card effect. During your next Standby Phase, Special Summon 1 "Destin HERO" monster from your Graveyard.

-

In the dazzling light, the rushing human and the divine human merge into one, and two new heroes of destiny become one.

Then, red wings spread out, and destruction descended.

As Edward called, in the shattered void, the Dark Phoenix, crowned with the name of destruction, broke free from the shackles of fate, broke through the vortex of fusion, and, accompanied by endless crimson and swirling with blazing flames, soared into the sky in the form of a phoenix. Then, it floated quietly above the dueling arena, looking down at the crowd below.

The Dark Phoenix, which shares the same level and basic attributes as the Flash Flame Winged Man and the Flash Phoenix Man, possesses a completely new and powerful force!

"Fate, destruction, and death..."

"Yuki Jaden, this is the new hero series that surpasses everything - D·HERO."

Speaking calmly and in a detached tone, Ed Phoenix addressed the crowd's earlier questions. He then looked in the direction of Jaden Yuki, slowly clenching his right hand: "I've been dreaming, dreaming a dream I don't want to wake up from... In my dream, I've never experienced any pain, nor the grief of losing loved ones. I have a life as fulfilling and happy as yours..."

"But in the end, all those beautiful things are just illusions, just my own longings, just my wishful thinking... In the end, I still have to face the cruel and cold reality."

With his deep blue eyes fixed on Jaden Yuki's direction, Edward's words contained a resolute determination: "[Destiny Hero: Phoenix of Destruction]... This is the embodiment of my ever-burning rage, my true ace! An indispensable card for my revenge!"

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

Edward: "Judai Yuki, let me show you what terror, coldness, and darkness are!"

Yuki Judai: "..."

Edward: "...Based on the permanent effect of Phoenix Man of Destruction, the ATK of all monsters on your opponent's field is reduced by 200 points equal to the number of [Hero] cards in my Graveyard. Since I have a total of 8 cards in my Graveyard, including [Elemental HERO] and [Destiny HERO], ...Yuki Jaden, the ATK of all monsters on your field will be reduced by 1600 points!"

"Varied……?!"

It does not select objects, nor does it join chains.

Therefore, Jaden Yuki was unable to retaliate against this effect, and even the Shining Flame Wingman, who had received the resistance buff from [Beloved Hero], could not escape the resulting influence.

Before Jaden Yuki could finish uttering his surprised words, the Phoenix of Destruction floating in mid-air received the command from Edward, and a tangible blood-red ripple appeared on its body.

Subsequently, under the influence of this ripple, the scorching heat, accompanied by intense spiritual pressure, spread outwards in all directions from the center of the destruction of the Phoenix.

Despite their deep reluctance, the two heroes, unable to put up a fight, were forced to temporarily lower themselves and endure the divine punishment that descended from the heavens, under the influence of absolute power and the intense heat that scorched the earth.

(【Elemental Hero - Thunder Giant】 Attack Power: 2400→800)

(【Elemental Hero - Flash Flame Winged Man】Attack Power: 5800 → 4200)

"The attack power of the Tenth Generation's Shining Flame Wingman has been reduced... Now, the attack power of Edward's Shining Phoenix Man is 100 points higher!"

"No! Not only that... Jaden's current HP is 3000, which means that Edward only needs to have Phoenix Flash (Attack Power: 4300) attack the weakened Thunder Giant (Attack Power: 800) to win the duel..."

"Jūdai... he has no cards in his hand, and only one Evil Hero resource in his graveyard... this... he's doomed!"

"Hero of Destiny... terrifyingly powerful!!!"

"No... I still feel that this isn't Edward's full strength..."

At this opportune moment, the audience began the usual commentary segment.

As they said, Judai Yuki has no way to overcome the current difficult situation.

What awaited him next was only a cruel fate of defeat.

"D-HERO, the hero of destiny... a hero more powerful than E-HERO and Elemental Heroes..."

"As expected, there is one! My Elemental Heroes should also have a different path than Masked Heroes, a path that is even higher."

Despite the dire situation before him, Jaden Yuki's face did not show much despair.

His and Edward's upbringing was different, and his heartfelt words could not reach her heart, so they could not understand each other.

But it doesn't matter, Jaden Yuki doesn't plan to be in a relationship and has no interest in women, so there's no need to carefully consider your tone to win her favor.

Having come to understand the new evolutionary path that elemental heroes possess, and with his horizons broadened, he had already achieved his goal.

As for the outcome of the duel, that was not so important.

"Yuki Judai, you can no longer escape the fate of defeat."

"Ah... I know, but I've already tried my best, so I don't care about the outcome."

After pausing, Yuki Judai continued, "Furthermore, I don't believe in any so-called fate. The path of the future is paved by one's own hands."

"Oh... really? Then... show me how to develop it."

"Uh... there's no other way right now..."

Slightly embarrassed, Jaden Yuki continued, "Once I also gain new power and allow the heroes to evolve, then... I can show it to you!"

It seems that evil heroes alone are not enough to defeat Edward's Phoenix of Destruction...

While it's possible to use the effect of [Dark Summoning] to summon [Evil Hero - Evil Blade Death Demon], which is immune to combat and effects, to act as an undead meat shield, that would only buy time and wouldn't solve the current thorny problem.

What Jaden Yuki needs is to bring about change, to possess a new power that no one else has ever had before.

"Hahahahahahaha..."

Suddenly, Jaden Yuki started laughing loudly, oblivious to everyone else.

"...Yuki Judai?" With a puzzled look on his face, Edward repeated his opponent's name in a questioning tone.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Edward, your destined hero!"

"..."

With a bright smile on his face, Jaden Yuki exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "I never imagined that there would be such a monster in the Hero Deck. I've always felt like I've hit a bottleneck, but after seeing your Destiny Hero, I feel like... the image of a new hero is starting to appear in my mind!"

"You mean... a new hero? That kind of thing... a new hero who can rival the Hero of Destiny simply cannot exist on Earth!"

"Hero of Destiny, that is the ultimate form of power that surpasses that of Element Heroes, the ultimate goal that heroes burdened with a dark destiny can reach."

"Is that so? But I always feel... there are other heroes out there! If not on Earth, what about outer space?"

"Stop saying such thoughtless things, okay? Jaden Yuki... Are you planning to go to Nebula M78 and summon Ultraman later?"

"...Uh...maybe it's possible?"

"..."

462 After the sorrow, once again

"Upgrade! Upgrade! Jaden Yuki! Your fate has already been decided..."

On the other side, in a pure white room, Saiou, who was monitoring the duel in real time through his spies, couldn't help but show a smug look on his face after learning that Edward had the absolute advantage in the duel, just as the prophecy had foretold: "...Yuki Judai, no matter how much you struggle, it's useless before a fate that has already been decided!"

"Through our duel, Edward will reach even greater heights. The stronger you become, the greater the trials and growth Edward will experience..."

"And at this moment of your defeat, the power that was previously attached to Ed's deck will guide your destiny and bathe you in the light of truth!"

"Alright! Judai Yuki... From this day forward, you shall become my servant, Saiou Takuma, and we shall meet again on the Path of Light!!!"

"...Hehehehehehe!!! Judai Yuki...your fate is now in my hands!"

……

Let's switch our focus back to the Duel Academy.

Edward, who was somewhat speechless after being taken aback by Jaden Yuki's whimsical remarks, paused for a moment before readjusting his mindset.

"The Phoenix of Destruction... is the embodiment of my soul and will. This phoenix, born from the flames of rage, is an existence that no other hero can contend with!"

Clenching his right hand again, Edward made a solemn declaration of defeat: "Yuki Judai, you are still too naive... Indeed, you are a very strong duelist, but... you can never beat me."

"If you ask why, it's because... I have something you don't!"

"Something I don't have...?" Seeing Edward repeat his initial statement, Jaden Yuki raised his arm, looking completely bewildered.

"That's right, that's... the reason for yearning for heroes!"

With a forceful raise of his arm, pointing at Jaden Yuki opposite him, Edward continued to express his thoughts: "The reason I chose to use the power of D-HERO is to avenge the guy who killed my father!"

Everyone: "What...!!!"

Jaden Yuki: "You mean...revenge?"

Upon first hearing Edward's true meaning, Jaden Yuki's face couldn't help but show a hint of astonishment.

That brilliant young girl at the height of her talent, that Edward who defeated Caesar… With such a perfect life and already achieving economic freedom, her true purpose was actually… revenge?

"Hmm... My father is a card designer at the International Fantastic Company, the creator of Duel Monsters. He is a father I am very proud of, who has created many excellent cards."

The girl's eyes flickered with emotion, her face filled with reminiscence, before a hint of hatred crept onto her lips: "But one day... my father was attacked by someone and lost his life!"

"How could this be... Could it be your father?" Upon realizing a possibility, Judai Yuki's face showed a look of sudden realization.

Destiny Hero – this is a card I've never heard of before.

But if that's the case, then everything makes sense.

“That’s it… The last card my father made is the Destiny Hero of the D series that I use now!” Raising her arm, the girl’s face was filled with an unwavering determination to achieve her goal: “D-HERO, this is… the power my father gave me! It’s also the driving force that keeps me climbing higher!”

“I used to believe in a force of justice like yours, so I kept waiting for the criminal to be caught, waiting and holding onto hope…”

"However, this long wait ultimately turned into a joke. Not only was the criminal not caught, but even a specific trace was not found... The punishment I expected did not fall on the criminal's head as reasonably as I had imagined."

"So at that time, I made a vow in my heart to become the hero who would find the culprit, and I would do anything to achieve that..."

Enveloped in extremely negative emotions, the girl's eyes revealed a real rage.

That intense emotion contained hatred, incomprehension, resentment, anger... and many other things.

Even Yusei, who was sitting in the audience some distance away, couldn't help but deeply understand the feelings she was trying to express.