Camelot Royal Prison.
Beryl scratched his neck as he watched the two figures enter his cell. After just a few days in this damp, gloomy prison, he already felt his body starting to mold.
"You've finally arrived. Hurry up and get it over with."
"So you've prepared an escape route," Jiang You observed, noting Beryl's fearless demeanor. He realized ordinary methods wouldn't kill him. "Truly worthy of surviving five hundred curses! I hereby crown you the Unkillable King of Camelot."
"Five hundred curses? I actually withstood that? So, it's that future sight again, huh?"
Seeing Jiang You moving freely within this Lostbelt and possessing a deck of Knights of the Round Table, Beryl now seriously suspected that Jiang You was Merlin in disguise.
"Being targeted by someone like you is truly terrifying. But I'm not without my own countermeasures."
Beryl grinned, no longer bothering to hide his true nature now that his schemes had been exposed.
"This is a subtle technique that even Morgan couldn't detect. I must thank you, Baobhan Sith. Without the experimental materials you provided, I could never have completed this technique. Rest assured, I won't appear before you again—I still have enough sense for that, at least until this world is functioning normally again."
"So you're aware of the world's problems, too?" Jiang You stroked his chin. It's no wonder Beryl would betray Fairy Tristan. Perhaps he had foreseen this inevitable outcome ever since Morgan started using the Phantasmal Tree to generate energy. As Morgan's former Master, it's not surprising he knew more than he let on.
"If even the Great Prophet says so, it must be true."
Beryl's laughter grew more manic, his lazy grin transforming into the snarl of a feral wolf. "Since it's all destined anyway, why not indulge in a final, wild celebration? I doubt I'll ever get another chance like this in my lifetime!"
"What 'problems' with the world? What do you mean by that?!"
Fairy Tristan stomped her stiletto heel toward Jiang You's ankle, but he dodged in time. She pressed him urgently, "Don't speak in riddles! You promised you wouldn't lie to me."
"Hold on, this involves the very creation of this world—the Lostbelt," Jiang You said, soothing Fairy Tristan's agitation. He knew she had a long way to go before treating him with the same affection she had shown Beryl. He also had no patience for riddles. Sooner or later, Fairy Tristan would learn the truth anyway. "You love stories, right? Tonight's bedtime story is this one. And guess what I'm here to do? Don't worry, I won't let Morgan's efforts go to waste."
"Easy for you to say," Fairy Tristan scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "Even Mother is tearing her hair out over the Child of Prophecy. Do you even possess half of Mother's abilities? You lost to her in your own Shadow Game! Stop bragging—Mother is more likely to help you."
It seemed Fairy Tristan interpreted the Shadow Game as Jiang You's failed challenge against Morgan, a misunderstanding Jiang You was happy to let stand.
"Everyone has their specialties," Jiang You said, his gaze locking onto Fairy Tristan's amber eyes. "Morgan may excel in some areas, but when it comes to Prophecy, I surpass her. Besides, look—haven't I already helped Morgan save her most beloved child?"
Fairy Tristan averted her gaze, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
"You brought her here just to show me this?"
Beryl raised his hands in surrender. "Honestly, I don't care if you replace me or not. Just hurry up and finish me off so you can report back to Morgan. See? It's a win-win, right?"
"Indeed, a win-win—meaning we win twice."
Jiang You snapped his fingers, pulling Beryl into the Noble Phantasm's capture range. "I'm afraid there's no escape for you this time. Even your soul must remain! As the one who led Fairy Tristan to the path of 'Fairy Savior,' you're the perfect inaugural tribute."
"Soul?"
The word echoed repeatedly in Beryl's mind. He laughed wildly, turning to Jiang You. "Don't tell me you plan to have Fairy Tristan use that sorcery?"
"You underestimate me, Fairy Savior. Make your move."
Jiang You stepped aside, giving Fairy Tristan center stage.
"I'll torment him thoroughly," Fairy Tristan said, crushing a pendant. This cursed item, crafted by Beryl himself, had been found in his Magic Workshop beneath the Royal Slaughter Theater. As Beryl's direct attack, it activated the Duel Space.
"Initiating the Shadow Game. The price: Your souls!"
Fairy Tristan licked her lips. This thing was far more useful than any of that messy sorcery. She'd already tested it on humans injected with the Mors Curse in Beryl's Magic Workshop and confirmed its ability to cleanse the curse's influence. It was practically a miniature wish-granting machine.
"This... how is this possible?!"
Only by experiencing Jiang You's Noble Phantasm firsthand did Beryl truly grasp its absurdity.
"Nothing is impossible."
Jiang You retrieved a sofa he'd swiped from Fairy Tristan's house from his inventory. Its texture was indescribably luxurious. "Of course, the price is mutual. Whoever loses will be turned into a Soul Crystal."
"Soul Crystal?"
Beryl immediately recognized it as a product of the Third Magic. In his eyes, Jiang You's identity became even more outlandish. But if the price was mutual, he wasn't necessarily doomed to lose. "Aren't you worried she might lose this game?"
"Not at all."
Jiang You exuded unwavering confidence. Beryl's own strength wasn't particularly high, and Fairy Tristan's current deck was heavily disadvantaged.
"Servant Cards only respond to those they acknowledge as their Main Battler. With no chance of winning, what hope do you have left?"
Although Beryl could still summon Morgan, her special summoning effect required discarding a servant card with the name "Knights of the Round Table," effectively isolating him from all his allies.
"What's the point of wasting words on him?" Fairy Tristan snapped impatiently. "I'll go first!"
Fairy Tristan LP: 4000
Beryl LP: 4000
"First, I activate the Spell Card 'Reincarnation of the Fairy Clan.' This sends a 'Fairy' servant card from my Deck to the Graveyard, then I draw a card. If the drawn card isn't a Servant Card, I return it to the Deck. The card I'm sending to the Graveyard is 'Fairy Knight Tristan'!"
Fairy Tristan drew a card, glanced at it, and returned it to the Deck. Her current hand was primarily Spell/Trap cards, so drawing a Servant Card was unlikely.
"Next, I activate 'Blessed Heir.' This card allows me to Special Summon a 'Fairy Knight' from the Graveyard and increase its Attack Power and Defense Power by 500!"
Fairy Tristan Special Summoned herself to the battlefield.
[ Fairy Tristan ] Attack Power: 2000 → 2500
"Finally, I Set three cards face-down in my back row and end my turn!"