"Since we're here to challenge the dojo, I'll take the first move!"
Taking advantage of Fairy Tristan's self-restraint, Jiang You decisively claimed the first turn.
"First, I activate the Spell Card Grudge Fusion. By sending Fairy Knight Tristan and Cernunnos from my Card Group to the Graveyard, I Fusion Summon—Cait Cú MikoCer!"
With Fairy Tristan right beside him, even with the physical limit on copies, drawing this crucial card was remarkably easy.
The colossal Horned God rose from the sea, Fairy Tristan perched atop its head, wearing her horned god's furry hat and gauntlets, glaring down fiercely at Taiga Fujimura.
Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)
Attack Power: 3000
"Hey, hey, is it really okay to temporarily modify your Spirit Origin like that?" Taiga Fujimura asked, eyeing Fairy Tristan. As a Sacrificial Priestess, Fairy Tristan's Spirit Origin had been infused with the presence of the Great Horned God Cernunnos, making her significantly stronger—so much so that even Taiga felt a palpable pressure.
"Why didn't you just use this form from the start? Though, I must say, your sense of style is impeccable! I love it! We're kindred spirits!"
"Kindred spirits?! This is the attire of a Sacrificial Priestess! Is that ridiculous doll costume of yours supposed to be funny?"
Fairy Tristan refused to let Taiga Fujimura lower her dignity. Her furry, horned headdress was a testament to Cernunnos himself, nothing like that clownish outfit.
"Eh? But they're practically the same!" Taiga Fujimura was utterly crushed. But this outfit is so cute!
Jiang You refrained from commenting on their argument and continued his actions: "Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)'s effect: Send one Card from the hand to the Graveyard and inflict 1000 Life Point damage to the opponent!"
Since they didn't know how many cards the Jaguar Warrior still had in her hand, there was no guarantee they could discard a critical one. Moreover, most Aztec cards had graveyard effects due to their association with sacrifices, making direct Life Point damage the safest approach.
"Then... Impale?!"
Activating her effect, Fairy Tristan conjured a spiraling blood-red spike using magic. Wielding her Mykonos Hammer in a swing reminiscent of a baseball bat, she launched the blood spike straight at Taiga Fujimura.
"I'll dodge!"
Taiga Fujimura attempted to evade the attack on her own, but such maneuvers are forbidden during a Duel.
"Ugh!"
Taiga Fujimura Life Points: 4000 → 3000
"Because the card I just discarded was 'Kiritsugu Emiya,' I can add an 'Origin Bullet' from my Deck to my hand!"
The tireless Kiritsugu Emiya was sent to the Graveyard once again. Come to think of it, he hadn't returned to this warm "home" in quite some time.
"Hmm?"
Fairy Tristan noticed that this card synergized well with her effect. "You've been hiding such a gem all this time, huh?! Hand it over now!"
"You sure lack any manners."
It wasn't that Jiang You didn't want to give it to her; he'd been spamming Bitter Choice to get multiple Kiritsugu cards. As he'd mentioned before, to add someone to his Deck, he needed their recognition. "Once this is over, I'll take you to Kiritsugu. Whether he agrees to hand it over is up to you."
"I'll set four cards face-down in my back row and end my turn."
"Oh, great! My turn, draw!"
Taiga Fujimura began her turn.
"First, I activate the Spell Card The Sinking of the First Sun! By sending one Tezcatlipoca to the Graveyard, I Special Summon one Jaguar Man (Fujimura Taiga) from my Deck to the field!"
As the Spell Card activated, the sun seemed to take a fatal blow, plunging rapidly into the sea. From the churning, boiling waters, a jaguar leaped forth, landing on the ground and transforming into Taiga Fujimura.
Jaguar Man (Fujimura Taiga)
Lancer, 8-Star, Attack Power 3000
"It has the same Attack Power as Mother!"
Fairy Tristan's pupils constricted. No wonder she stood no chance—beneath that comical exterior lay top-tier power.
Jiang You's concern lay with the Tezcatlipoca in the Graveyard. The Jaguar Man was a Fragmented Spirit born because Quetzalcoatl had cast Tezcatlipoca into the sea, so it wasn't surprising she had it in her Deck. However, its presence in the Graveyard was an ominous sign. If it were to emerge, Jiang You wasn't sure if he could withstand its attack.
"Heh heh, after all, I'm the invincible Jaguar Warrior!"
Taiga Fujimura swiped her thumb across her nose in a cocky gesture.
"It's not over yet! Servants summoned by this effect cannot be destroyed by card effects! So, let's have a fair and square showdown!"
"My own effect! I can activate this by sending any number of Servants from my Hand to the Graveyard. Attack Power increases by 500 for each card sent!"
The Jaguar Man would eat hearts as snacks, as Kotaro and Amakusa had already confirmed.
"I'll send two Jaguar Men to the Graveyard!"
[ Taiga Fujimura ] Attack Power: 3000 → 4000.
"At the same time, the effect of the Jaguar Men sacrificed to the Graveyard activates! When these cards are sent from the Hand to the Graveyard, they Special Summon themselves in Attack Position from the Graveyard!"
Human warriors dressed as jaguars leaped onto the battlefield, roaring battle cries.
Jaguar Man
Berserker, 3 stars, Attack Power 1200 x 2.
"Finally! Quick-Play Spell Card: Panther's Fist (Panther's Blessing)!"
"When this card is activated, all servants on the field with the 'Jaguar' keyword gain 500 Attack Power until the end of the turn! Moreover, when attacking a servant in Defense Position, inflict damage equal to the difference between your Attack Power and their Defense Power!"
Taiga Fujimura's comedic Skill actually has an official name: Warrior's Authority.
[ Taiga Fujimura ]: Attack Power 4000 → 4500.
[ Jaguar Man ]: Attack Power 1200 → 1700 x 2.
"Entering the Battle Phase! I'll attack Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)!"
"Seriously? Even in this situation, she's wearing a swimsuit and it's boosting her combat power? That's not fair! I want one too!"
Taiga Fujimura lunged at Fairy Tristan with a hint of resentment, her blazing Fighting Spirit coalescing into a massive jaguar.
"I'll finish you in one turn!"
If all her attacks landed, the total field attack power of 7900 would indeed secure her victory. However, Jiang You had four Set Cards in his back row.
"Not a chance!"
Jiang You flipped over his first Set Card: "Continuous Trap Card: Chains of Heaven! Targeting Taiga Fujimura, negate her effects and prevent her from declaring attacks!"
"Isn't that the golden guy's thing from the north?! But I refuse! My own effect allows me to release a servant from my field when I'm targeted, negating the effect and destroying it!"
As the Jaguar Man was released, she transformed into a cheetah and pounced toward the flying chains of heaven.
But the chains of heaven still bound her securely.
Taiga Fujimura blinked in disbelief, her own effect having already activated. "You're cheating?!"