"The effect of 'Aztec Priest': Discard one card from your Hand to destroy one servant on the field. If the destroyed servant is an opponent's, inflict 1000 LP damage. If it's your own, Special Summon it from the Graveyard!"
With a grand sweep of her hand, Quetzalcoatl pierced her own chest with the sacrificial stone blade. "I choose myself!"
A crimson meteor crashed down once more, this time Quetzalcoatl emerged in her full glory.
Quetzalcoatl
Attack Power: 3500
"My own effect activates! Upon entering the field, I banish all face-up Spell Cards! For each card banished, I inflict 500 Life Point damage to my opponent!"
The intense heat could evaporate even the sea. Though the Revolving Sword of Victory was also a sun-attribute blade, it lacked the corresponding resistance. Fairy Tristan lost her grip, and the Holy Sword was blasted away by the force of the impact.
Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)
Attack Power: 3500 → 3000
Jiang You's Life Points: 4000 → 3500
"Because Sacrificial Offering: Blood was discarded, its effect activates! When sent to the Graveyard by this effect, until the end of the turn, increase the Attack Power of one Servant on the field by 1000!"
The sacrificial blood surged into Quetzalcoatl's body.
[ Quetzalcoatl ] Attack Power: 3500 → 4500
"Next, the Spell Card Winged Serpent! This card can only be activated while Quetzalcoatl is on the field. Special Summon one Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon from the Deck!"
This was the Cretaceous-era pterosaur Quetzalcoatl had summoned, bearing the name she had bestowed upon it—a mythical creature far more powerful than its prehistoric counterpart, evolving from a Phantasmal Beast to a Divine Beast.
Its massive wingspan, stretching tens of meters, blotted out the sky as the colossal dragon descended from the heavens.
Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon
6-Star Attack Power: 2000
The Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon docilely lowered its massive head, larger than two people, toward Quetzalcoatl, relishing her gentle strokes.
"The Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon's effect: Equip it as an Equip Spell Card to Quetzalcoatl! Increase his Attack Power by 1000, and when Quetzalcoatl is destroyed, send this card to the Graveyard as a replacement."
Quetzalcoatl vaulted onto the dragon's back. The Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon spread its wings and soared into the sky, the gale created by its powerful wingbeats forcing everyone to shield their eyes. The oppressive presence of a god and a supreme Phantasmal Beast descended from the heavens.
Quetzalcoatl's Attack Power: 4500 → 5500
"Now, let's enter the Battle Phase! I'll attack Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)!"
Quetzalcoatl launched her attack. She leaped from the Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon and plunged toward Fairy Tristan at incredible speed from tens of meters in the air. This was the same move Gudako had used against her in their story. Unlike Gudako's attempt to prove human courage, Quetzalcoatl's strike was intended to kill.
In addition to the above effects, Quetzalcoatl also possessed the ability to discard a card from her hand to negate and destroy any effect targeting her or activated by a servant. This corresponded to her Noble Phantasm, Blazing Flames, Even Gods Shall Burn, which briefly prevented her opponent from unleashing their Noble Phantasm's True Name.
"I activate my Set Card, Support Fire! Destroy Quetzalcoatl!"
"Useless! Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon's effect! Substitute its destruction! You can't escape this attack!"
The Quetzalcoatl Winged Dragon intercepted the blow for Quetzalcoatl, letting out a mournful cry as it was sent to the Graveyard.
"Second Set Card, Rule Breaker! Target: You again!"
Jiang You continued to deplete Quetzalcoatl's resources.
"Futile! My own effect! Discard a card from my hand to negate and destroy your effect!"
Quetzalcoatl kicked Medea's Noble Phantasm aside and continued her assault.
Fairy Tristan watched helplessly as Quetzalcoatl seized her. Then, the world turned upside down as both she and the Great Cernunnos beneath her were lifted into the air. The last thing she heard was the crisp crack of her bones breaking.
Jiang You's Life Points: 3500 → 2000.
"Next, Aztec Priest... Honestly, I told you all to stop with the human sacrifices! Why are you still offering me blood?"
Seeing the former Priest after so long, Quetzalcoatl couldn't resist asking, "What was that about the Feathered Serpent Goddess wanting to abolish human sacrifice because she's too kind? And that we should thank her with the blood of living sacrifices?" Even she couldn't maintain her composure at that absurdity.
The nameless priest didn't dare to utter a word.
Quetzalcoatl didn't press him further; these matters weren't his decision alone.
"Forget it. Commence the attack!"
Jiang You saw the Aztec Priest, moving with a speed belying his age, rush toward him. The priest relentlessly struck his vital points with a ceremonial long staff studded with thorns.
Is this guy a Caster?
Jiang You's Life Points: 2000 → 800.
"Here's a little hint," Quetzalcoatl said, unaware that Jiang You could directly see the effects of cards in the Graveyard. "I just sent 'Sacrificial Offering: Flesh and Blood' to the Graveyard. When one of my servants is destroyed in battle, this card can banish itself as a substitute. I'm afraid you won't be able to pass this first trial either. You'll be working for me from now on."
"Not necessarily. It's my turn."
Jiang You activated his Skill, Fate's Draw. Now was the time for that card he'd worked so hard to obtain to finally prove its worth.
"Draw!"
"A true Duelist draws cards with absolute certainty!" Jiang You shamelessly declared, uttering the cliché. "I activate the Spell Card Bitter Choice! I reveal three cards from my Deck! You choose one to add to my Hand, and the other two go to the Graveyard! I reveal... Cocoa Bean, Kiritsugu Emiya, and Kiritsugu Emiya!"
As excellent ammunition, Jiang You had decisively maxed out Kiritsugu Emiya in Fairy Tristan's Deck.
"I'll take Cocoa Bean... Does it even matter which one I choose? He's going straight to the Graveyard anyway."
Quetzalcoatl stared at Jiang You, speechless. "Just how much of a grudge do you hold against this guy to be so obsessed with sending him to the Graveyard?"
"That's his true purpose! I only need his bones; the Graveyard is his warm home. Kiritsugu Emiya's effect adds one Origin Bullet to my Hand. Then comes Blessed Heir, which Special Summons a Fairy Knight from the Graveyard! Servants Special Summoned by this card gain 500 Attack Power! I'll revive Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit) and Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)!"
Attack Power: 3000 → 3500
"Next, the Origin Bullet targets Quetzalcoatl!"
Quetzalcoatl had only one card left in her hand.
"I discard a card to negate that effect!"
She knew Swimsuit Tristan could interrupt her effects, but she had no other choice.