"Senpai, lend me your power! I Normal Summon Ritsuka Fujimaru!"
Mash slammed down the most vicious and wicked Human Master. "I activate Senpai's effect to search my Deck for..."
This was the value of intelligence. Fairy Tristan's effect had never been revealed to Gudako; otherwise, Mash would never have casually played Gudako like this.
"Sorry, this path is blocked! I activate Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)'s effect to negate that search and destroy Ritsuka Fujimaru!"
A blood-red spike pierced Ritsuka Fujimaru's abdomen.
"Senpai!"
Mash watched helplessly as Gudako was sent to the Graveyard. "I activate the effect of 'Round Table Knight Lancelot [Saber]'! By sending one 'Round Table Knight' card from my hand and one 'Holy Sword' card from my Deck to the Graveyard, I Special Summon him to the field in Attack Position!"
Lancelot
Attack Power: 2400
"Mash, leave this to Papa!"
Saber Lancelot strode across the water, determined to sever anything that might harm Mash. "Your enemy..."
When Saber Lancelot saw Jiang You was their opponent, his brow furrowed. He knew the Lion King had fallen to this man, and facing him with only himself and Mash would be an uphill battle.
"Mash, wasn't he one of your allies? Why...?"
"Father, he's now an accomplice in destroying the Human Order. We don't know what happened, but we can't treat him as the person he used to be!" Mash explained.
"I still don't fully understand, but servants are indeed such fickle beings."
Saber Lancelot nodded in understanding. After all, he himself possessed a Berserker-class servant, and their approaches to combat were diametrically opposed. He pointed his sword at Jiang You. "Lord Jiang You, I will stop you!"
"If you think you can, by all means, try!"
Mash continued her actions, sending one Mash Kyrielight and one Holy Sword - Arondight to the Graveyard.
"Next, I activate the effect of Holy Sword - Arondight in the Graveyard. While this card is in the Graveyard, I can target a Knight of the Round Table on the field and equip it to the corresponding servant. I target Lancelot!"
Jiang You knew that a servant equipped with Arondight would automatically destroy its attack target during the damage calculation phase. Moreover, successfully equipping it would grant Saber Lancelot one instance of destruction immunity. This was the perfect moment to strike. Jiang You decisively flipped his Set Card. "Before that, I activate Origin Bullet! Destroy Lancelot directly!"
"I'm sorry, Mash. Daddy has to break his promise."
Saber Lancelot never imagined his debut would be so short-lived. It seemed every time he appeared, he was either used as a stepping stone or destroyed outright, never even reaching the Battle Phase.
A bullet carrying the concepts of severance and connection pierced Lancelot's skull.
Mash glanced at his remaining three cards. He still had a way to break through.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [ Spirit Origin Shift ]! I target a Servant in either the Graveyard or on the field, return it to the Deck, and then Special Summon a Servant with the same name but a different class from the Deck or Hand. I choose [ Round Table Knight Lancelot [Saber] ]! Special Summon [ Round Table Knight Lancelot [Berserker] ] from the Deck!"
A black-armored knight, cloaked in a violent, dark aura, charged onto the battlefield.
"Ahrrrrrrr—"
[ Lancelot (Berserker) ] Attack Power: 2500
Then Berserker Lancelot spotted Jiang You, his roar faltering. "Ahr?"
"[ Lancelot (Berserker) ] cannot be destroyed by card effects. Once per turn, I can target an Equip Card on the field or in the Graveyard and equip it to myself. I choose [ Arondight ]!"
This effect was clearly designed to counter a certain Archer's abilities, but it would still be overwhelmed by a massive Attack Power, a fitting reenactment of the original story.
Lancelot (Berserker) Attack Power: 2500 → 3100
"Enter the Battle Phase!"
Mash immediately attacked with Berserker Lancelot. "Father, please!"
Berserker Lancelot scratched his head, though the helmet rendered the gesture pointless. He desperately wanted to tell Mash the actual situation, but as an early-model Berserker, he was bound by his programming to strictly adhere to the established lore and couldn't speak freely. Yet, with his daughter's plea, he had no choice but to launch the attack.
Jiang You's final backrow card was Support Fire. However, Mad Lancelot's immunity to effect destruction rendered it useless. Lancelot leaped over Great Cernunnos, piercing Fairy Tristan clean through.
Jiang You's Life Points: 4000 → 3900
"Well done! I'll set one card face-down in my backrow and end my turn!"
Hearing his daughter's praise, Berserker Lancelot roared with excitement. His Mad Enhancement made his emotions overflow unchecked.
"My turn! Draw!"
Jiang You began his turn. "First, I activate Blessed Heir. This card allows me to Special Summon a Fairy Knight from the Graveyard! The summoned Servant's Attack Power is increased by 500!"
With the Bond mechanic activated and several key cards in hand, Jiang You still felt it wasn't quite enough. He needed to find a way to secure the other Fairy Knights as well. Fairy Gawain would be relatively easy to handle; her memories could be manipulated once, so they could be manipulated again. Persuading Morgan would be the real challenge. Melusine still possessed her Black Moonlight, and she wasn't the lecherous, breeding-obsessed dragon from Chaldea, leaving Jiang You uncertain about obtaining many of her cards.
Jiang You refocused his thoughts. The most critical task now was resolving the events of Chapter 7. Securing a channel to obtain Tiamat took priority over everything else.
Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)
Attack Power: 3000 → 3500
"Next, Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)'s effect: Discard one card to reduce the Attack Power of all servants on your field by 1000!"
Since he couldn't destroy them with effects, he'd simply crush them in battle!
Lancelot (Berserker)
Attack Power: 3100 → 2100
"I'm sacrificing the Sacrificial Offering: Heart, so I'll summon a Servant from the Graveyard!"
Since the summoned Servant was a blank slate with its effects nullified, Jiang You decisively chose the Servant with the highest base stats in the Graveyard.
"Come forth, Cernunnos, Great God of the Celts, ruler of hunting, fertility, animals, plants, and the wilderness!"
A colossal deity, towering like a mountain, descended from the horizon. The earth trembled with each step of its massive feet. Its immense form couldn't even be contained within the Battle Zone, so it simply loomed over the entire city.
[ Cernunnos ] - Attack Power: 3800.
"Enter the Battle Phase! Great Horned God, attack Lancelot (Berserker)!"