"Quite a luxurious opening," Kira said, eyeing Aster's field.
An 8-star beater in Dogma, the Destiny HERO tower, and two set backrow—luxurious indeed.
"Looks like I'll have to get a little serious." Kira: "My turn, draw."
"At the start of your Standby Phase, Destiny HERO – Dogma's effect activates!" Aster snapped. "As long as Dogma remains on the field, during each of your Standby Phases, your LP is halved!" (Anime effect)
The printed card kept it but, as usual, nerfed it: it only triggers on the opponent's next Standby after Dogma's Special Summon, a one-time effect.
Dogma's power surged; a pillar of light erupted under Kira's feet. A matching sigil formed beneath him; the pillar scorched upward like burning energy.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 2000]
Notably, Dogma "changes the opponent's LP to half," not "inflicts damage equal to half their current LP."
So it's LP modification, not effect damage. Meaning reflectors like Barrel Behind the Door nor effect-damage immunity like Hanewata's barrier won't stop it.
It's basically guaranteed unless you negate the activation outright.
"This is the power of a hero burdened with the fate of battle," Aster said. "Not like that Jaden Yuki riffraff!"
"Haha—sure. If you say so."
Kira smiled.
"I activate Graceful Charity—draw three, then discard two."
"Since I discarded Learning Elf from my hand, when it hits the GY, I draw one."
"Next, I activate the Ritual Spell Black Illusion Ritual from my hand. I tribute monsters from my hand/field totaling Level 1 or more to Ritual Summon Relinquished."
Aster's face tightened. "Relinquished?"
"I tribute the Level 3 Transforming Sphere from my hand to Ritual Summon!"
Kira snapped his fingers. Transforming Sphere flickered into being and turned into a beam of violet light, plunging into the altar.
A monstrous single eye opened in the chaos; Relinquished unfurled and swept the field with a baleful gaze.
[Relinquished, ATK 0]
"Relinquished's effect," Kira said. "Once per turn, equip one of your monsters to it and absorb it."
He paused, then smiled.
"If your Destiny HEROs are so burdened by fate, allow me to set him free.
Relinquished, absorb Destiny HERO – Dogma."
Relinquished's lone eye widened; a terrible suction surged forth. An irresistible force dragged Dogma toward it.
"I activate my set Quick-Play Spell Effect Veiler!" Aster shouted. "Negate a monster effect and destroy it!" (Anime effect)
Relinquished was bound by a barrier and detonated with a boom, shattering.
"The hero's fate isn't something any random trash can bear," Aster said coldly.
"Hahaha, I thought as much," Kira said. "Then I Normal Summon Synthesize Sphere."
A vortex of wind coiled on the field, currents forming a ring. A small, curled Sphere bird nestled within.
[Synthesize Sphere, ATK 1000]
"When Synthesize Sphere is summoned, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Sphere' from the GY."
Kira retrieved a card from the GY.
"The Transforming Sphere I used as Ritual material returns."
[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100]
"Attacking in Attack Position with 100 and 1000 ATK?" Aster frowned.
"From my hand, I activate the Spell Block Attack—force an Attack Position monster on the field into Defense Position," Kira said. "Change Destiny HERO – Dogma to Defense."
The mighty hero resisted, but the magic held him fast. He grunted under the binding, struggled, and then dropped to one knee, arms crossed to guard.
[Destiny HERO – Dogma, ATK 3400 → DEF 2400]
"Transforming Sphere's effect: discard a card to equip an opponent's face-up Defense Position monster to it."
Aster: "!!!"
Another absorb!?
"I discard one card," Kira said. "Equip Destiny HERO – Dogma to Transforming Sphere!"
Transforming Sphere shrieked. A transparent cyclone seized Dogma. He roared mightily, but resistance was useless—he was bound beneath the little Sphere's wind-ring, manipulated like a puppet.
[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100 → 3500]
"Transforming Sphere gains ATK equal to the absorbed monster's ATK," Kira said. "And the card I discarded was the Spell Card of Compensation—when sent from hand to GY, draw two."
He drew two, glanced, then swept his arm.
"Transforming Sphere, direct attack!"
Aster grit his teeth.
You've got to be kidding me. If both of these birds hit directly, that's an OTK!
Ritual into Relinquished, then this cursed bird—where's all this cheese coming from!?
"I activate the Trap Defense Draw!" Aster shouted. "Negate one attack, then draw a card!"
A transparent barrier formed. Dogma, controlled by the Sphere, slashed down upon it, sparing Aster the humiliation of being one-turned by his own ace.
"I draw!"
Aster took his card.
"Then Synthesize Sphere attacks directly," Kira said.
This time Aster had no defense left. The Sphere barreled into him; he staggered back with a grunt.
[Aster, LP 4000 → 3000]
"After battle, Transforming Sphere automatically switches to Defense Position," Kira said. "Then I activate the Continuous Spell Mirage of Nightmare—during your Standby Phase, draw until you have four cards in hand."
"Lastly, I set two and end my turn."
Kira gestured to Dogma, equipped under the Sphere.
"Also, Transforming Sphere only keeps absorbed monsters for one turn. At the end of the turn, the equipped Destiny HERO – Dogma returns to your field."
The wind-ring finally released; Dogma flew back to Aster's field.
Aster drew a deep breath.
He was rare serious today.
In the pro circuit, he'd never even pulled out a HERO deck—Elemental HERO hadn't seen daylight, and Destiny HERO had never appeared. Today he not only revealed his hole cards from the start, he also built a formidable turn-one board: his strongest ace Dogma, the Clock Tower Prison…
And the opponent slipped through it with ease, leaving him on the back foot.
His caution had been right—this opponent was among the strongest he had ever faced… perhaps the strongest.
Aster pushed himself up on a knee. Far from shrinking, his eyes burned brighter.
He was a duelist—a pro duelist—aiming to be world champion.
It's precisely opponents like this that are worth beating with everything he has.