"That's precisely why I'm here."
Having ultimately chosen to uphold the Human Order in her original Singularity, she could never stand by and watch another Singularity destroy it.
"Give the order."
"I won't hold back when the time comes. Next, I'll activate Arondight's effect from the Graveyard and equip it to White Lancer Artoria!"
Unlike the Holy Lance and Holy Sword, which require Artoria as their target, Arondight is restricted only to Knights of the Round Table.
White Lancer Artoria's Attack Power: 4000 → 4600.
"It's about time. I'll activate Rhongomyniad's effect. At the start of my next turn, all face-up servants on the field—except the one equipped with this card—will be sent to the Graveyard."
This delayed-activation Skill can only be activated in advance; it will inevitably trigger upon deployment.
"Finally, I'll set one card in my Backrow and end my turn."
White Lancer Artoria possesses excellent inherent resistances, but lacks immunity to untargetable effects. Ishtar happens to have such an effect, though the Round Table Knight Card Deck isn't entirely without ways to counter it.
"Next, White Lancer Artoria's effect activates. At the end of the turn, she'll stack one Knight of the Round Table as an Xyz Material beneath her. I choose Gawain."
White Lancer Artoria's Xyz Material count increased to five.
"Such high Attack Power... and that Weapon effect..." Ishtar muttered, surprised that Jiang You could summon such a powerful servant even without using a Grand Servant.
"But I won't give up so easily! My turn, draw!" Ishtar began her turn. "First, I activate the Spell Card Heavenly Father's Favor! By discarding one card, I add one Bull of Heaven and one Babylonian Mythology-related god servant to my Hand!"
A precise two-for-two search that also sent cards to the graveyard—a fairly useful card. As a goddess, Ishtar still had some decent options. However, she only retrieved one card. "Of course, I'm adding myself, Ishtar, to my Hand! ...Wait, where's my Bull of Heaven? It's not in my Deck either?"
"Never mind! Next, I activate the Spell Card Treasures Offered to the Goddess! By banishing Gold and Jewel cards from my Deck as Tribute, I can Special Summon one Goddess servant from my Hand!"
Gorgon and Quetzalcoatl were also Goddesses, and theoretically could be Special Summoned using this card. However, Jiang You hadn't seen many treasure-type cards, so he doubted its practicality.
"I'll banish three 'Jewel Magic' cards from my Deck to Special Summon 'Ishtar' from my Hand!"
The Star Gate reopened, and the Goddess emerged, sailing through the starry skies with Venus as her backdrop.
[ Ishtar ] - Attack Power: 3200
"Now, for my effect: I'll add 'An Gal Tā Kigal Shē' to my Hand!"
Ishtar smiled. Though Jiang You had many untargetable cards on his field, they were utterly useless against her.
"You've already witnessed this card's power, so I won't bother explaining it. I activate 'An Gal Tā Kigal Shē'!"
Ishtar unleashed her Noble Phantasm. Arrows projected from Venus pierced the earth, obliterating everything in their path!
"Can you withstand this strike?"
Ishtar watched as Jiang You's Camelot, Arondight, and Rhongomyniad dissolved into flames, convinced victory was at hand. Her next direct attack, combined with the discard damage, would inflict a staggering 5200 points of damage!
"So strong, too strong! I was almost one-shotted by a single card, but—"
Jiang You clapped repeatedly. "I activate the Trap Card Belt of Perseus, paying 1000 Life Points. I choose one Knights of the Round Table card. Until the end of my next turn, the selected servant cannot be targeted by card effects and is immune to destruction by card effects!"
Gawain's belt proved its worth, successfully blocking Ishtar's Noble Phantasm. However, the other cards couldn't be saved.
Jiang You's LP: 4000 → 3000.
White Lancer Artoria's Attack Power: 4600 → 2500.
"What a pity. So it only prevents destruction by battle?"
Ishtar glanced at Jiang You's remaining Life Points and her hand. An attack now, combined with her effect, would deal 2700 damage. Just a slight boost to her Attack Power would end this Duel.
"Then I've already won!"
"I equip the Equip Spell Card Heavenly Boat Maanna to myself! This card grants the equipped user an 800 Attack Power boost! Additionally, upon declaring an attack, I can choose one card in your Backrow to destroy... but you don't have any cards in your Backrow right now. Its third effect allows it to substitute destruction for me."
[Ishtar]Attack Power: 3200 → 4000
"I've won this Duel!"
Ishtar gazed proudly at her successful attack, her nose tilting upward as her Attack Power equaled that of the Grand Servants.
"Entering the Battle Phase! I'll attack Artoria L directly! Then, activating my own effect: when attacking, I can discard one card from my Hand to inflict 2000 damage to the opponent at the start of their next turn! I discard this Emerald Gem Magecraft of Cost!"
The pressure from Ishtar's Magical Arrows was hundreds of times greater than Fairy Tristan's. The attack pierced through White Lancer Artoria's body, its impact extending to Jiang You.
Jiang You's Life Points: 3000 → 1500.
"Finally, I'll set one card in my Backrow and end my turn!"
Ishtar watched her rain of arrows arch into the sky, a smug expression on her face. As soon as Jiang You's turn began, the arrows would descend upon him, obliterating his remaining Life Points. "Prepare for your defeat! See? I'm far superior to that gloomy woman!"
"Before this, White Lancer Artoria's effect adds another Xyz Material from the Deck."
Jiang You glanced at White Lancer Artoria's six Xyz Materials and shrugged indifferently. "Whatever, you're going to lose anyway."
"My turn..."
Just as Jiang You prepared to draw a card, a barrage of Magical Arrows rained down.
"Excellent! Victory belongs to me, Ishtar!"
Ishtar pumped her fist excitedly at the sight, knowing this would add another glorious chapter to her legendary tale.
"Don't celebrate too soon!"
Jiang You had already prepared for this situation. "I activate Mash's Graveyard effect! By banishing her, I reduce the damage from this attack to 0!"
A Round Shield materialized to block the arrows, allowing Jiang You to survive the lethal strike.
"Alright, I draw a card!"
Jiang You examined the card in his hand and grinned.
"It's over!"