Aster...
Name:
Aster Phoenix (Edo in the original)
Age:16 years at debut; 18 at end
Debut: Episode 53: Back to the Duel
Deck: Destiny Heroes
Character Status: Ally
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Gray
Height: Unknown
Aster later returns to duel Zane in the latter's first Pro League Duel. Despite a good match, Zane is defeated, and Aster leaves him contemptuously. Upon his departure, he is swarmed by interviewers who demand of him his plans for the future. He informs them of a "certain unnamed person" (Jaden) who he believes is copying his dueling style and cards, and goes on to say that in order to put the said person in his place, he intends to challenge him to a duel.
True to his word, Aster faces Jaden in a rematch, easily defeating him and proving his worthiness of his high ranking as a duelist. During the match however, he also reveals the happenings of his tragicpast, explaining that his father, a former card designer for Industrial Illusions, was kidnapped by a mysterious figure in order to obtain a certain card on which he was working. Devastated over the loss of his father, Aster has resolved to find his abductor and bring him to justice. The incident of his father's kidnapping has also apparently instilled within him a dramatically heightened, perhaps even too much so, sense of justice, as well as a belief that all things are predetermined by fate and destiny; all things being set in stone.
Jaden, believing in the strength of the individual, is horrified by Aster's convictions and tries to persuade him that each person is in control of his own destiny, and that the purpose of dueling is to have fun. Aster however scorns him and rejects his teachings.
He later appears again to challenge Jaden a second time at the urging of Sartorius, his manager. He is visibly very confident, having been assured by the clairvoyant Sartorius that he will win the match. Despite his confidence however Aster is frustrated at having to return a third time to Duel Academy, but Sartorius assuages his disdain by convincing him that Jaden is a threat to his career.
To his surprise, though, Jaden defeats him, leading him to doubt Sartorius's intentions. However, as he tries repeatedly to contact Sartorius, the latter does not respond and Aster's faith in his manager and supposed friend is shattered as he draws the conclusion that Jaden is not a threat to him, rather, to Sartorius. Aster then turns his back on Sartorius, upon the revelation that he was only using him, and becomes a friend of Jaden. Despite the chasm that has now formed between himself and Aster, Sartorius gives the latter a key, upon whose exact nature he does not elaborate; Jaden is given a key identical to Aster's.
In the events that pass thereafter, Aster learns that the true culprit behind his father's abduction is his very own caretaker, called The D. The two face off in a duel, where Aster meets, for the first time in years, with the soul of his father, who has been imprisoned within the very card The D stole from him. His father tells him that Sartorius is the host of the Light of Destruction, and must be stopped at all costs. With his encouragement, Aster is able to win the duel and escape The D unharmed, while the latter is apparently killed as their dueling site bursts into flames.
Following his father's urging, Aster challenges Sartorius, who is now fully possessed by the Light of Destruction, to a duel. Jaden, arriving at the scene, admonishes him that all costs, he must not lose the key he was given earlier, as it unlocks access to a satellite with which Sartorius intends to "brainwash" the world. This inspires Aster to instead wager the key in the duel, much to Jaden's apparent disproval. Despite a good fight, Aster loses, and in accordance to his earlier terms, Sartorius wins possession of the key; however, he goes against their previous agreement by kidnapping the defeated Aster.
Needing Jaden's key to complete his plan, Sartorius blackmails the former for ownership by threatening to kill the unconscious Aster, lest he not receive it. Jaden, unable to hurt Aster, agrees to give Sartorius the key, but is later able to force him to duel for it instead, with the help of the duel-spirit Neos. In the middle of the duel, however, Sartorius is able to weaken Neos, stealing both keys, and despite his possession of both, proceeds in his attempt to kill Aster anyway.Fortunately, Hassleberry, having been moved by Jaden's loyalty to Aster, rescues him, and places him under the care of Syrus while he is unconscious.
Aster later rejoins Jaden and co. as they are stranded in an alternate dimension, assisting in the efforts to get them out. However Jesse is left behind, and Jaden later attempts to intentionally reenter a similar portal with the means of saving him. As the portal opens, both Aster and Zane are accidently sucked in as well. The two proceed to travel together, eventually reuniting with Jaden, Syrus, and co.
The group later meets up with Crowler and Echo, both of whom decide to join them. However they are later confronted by Adrian Gecko, who implores Echo to desert the gang and follow him. Echo though is frightened by his gruff and cruel demeanor and refuses, leading Adrian to further mistreat her. Aster witnesses this and angered by Adrian's abuse of Echo, challenges him to a duel. Adrian agrees, but manages to defeat Aster by summoning Exodia. He reveals that his plan is to use Exodia to not only destroy Aster, but Jaden and co. as well. A distressed Aster urges his friends to flee, but he himself is trapped by Adrian and is unable to leave. Thus, he effectively sacrifices himself in order to save Jaden. Having lost the duel, Aster's body is visibly destroyed, while his soul is imprisoned in the stars. He is later freed and restored by Jaden.