As the red-armored dragon warrior [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] appeared, Keqing's heart surged with excitement.
She had become the first in all of Teyvat to perform a Synchro Summon—and she was proud of it!
"I activate [Swordsoul of Mo Ye]'s second effect!"
"When this card is sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material, I can draw one card."
She placed her fingertip on her Deck and swiftly drew a card—
[Swordsoul Punishment] (Spell Card)
Yet she wasn't done.
"I activate [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao]'s effect!"
"When this card is Synchro Summoned, I can add to my hand or banish one [Swordsoul] card from my Deck."
"I choose to add [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] to my hand!"
A black-robed, dragon-horned tactician wearing a dark feathered hat and holding a golden Longyuan Sword flew out from her Deck and landed gracefully in Keqing's hand.
[Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] FIRE│Level 6│Wyrm│1200 ATK / 2300 DEF
Her play—drawing two new cards in a single turn—left the spectators in awe.
"Wha—!?"
"That [Swordsoul of Mo Ye] is insane!"
"With one card, she not only summoned an 8-star [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] but also drew a card afterward!"
"And then the Synchro Monster she brought out lets her add another [Swordsoul] card!?"
"That's terrifying…"
"How can anyone beat that!?"
"One [Swordsoul of Mo Ye] can do all that?"
"Synchro Summoning is far too convenient—and it doesn't even have to be [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao]; she could summon any Level 8 Synchro Monster!"
"I'm so jealous of Lady Keqing's [Swordsoul] Deck—it all starts with one card!"
"She just brought out a monster with 2800 ATK!"
"And drew two cards in the process!"
"She gained card advantage without losing anything!"
"Meanwhile, my Deck needs [Berfomet] and [Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts] and a Fusion Spell just to summon a 2100-ATK [Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast]... I feel like a clown."
"Miss Ganyu's in trouble—how can she win against that!?"
"Her Synchro Monster [Naturia Barkion] only has 2500 ATK!"
With the 2800-ATK [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] now on the field, everyone was stunned by the might of Keqing's [Swordsoul] Deck. Many began to worry for Ganyu.
After all, they had already seen her Synchro Monster, [Naturia Barkion]—and it clearly wasn't a match for [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao].
Even Ganyu herself was growing anxious. She had only just received her Deck and didn't yet know all her cards' effects or how to chain them together. All she could do was rely on intuition.
Watching Keqing handle her [Swordsoul] Deck so smoothly filled Ganyu with admiration—and a touch of envy at the bond between duelist and cards.
Where Keqing's [Swordsoul] Deck was sharp, commanding, and fierce, Ganyu's [Naturia] Deck was gentle and endearing—just like her. Each had its own beauty.
By nature, Ganyu wasn't competitive. Losing wouldn't bother her much. After all, this was her first time using her Deck, and her opponent was Keqing with an exceptionally powerful one. Winning or losing didn't matter. What mattered was the connection she had found with the people of Liyue Harbor through dueling.
And she was deeply grateful to Luya—for introducing her to Dueling and for gifting her such a precious Deck.
So even knowing she might lose, Ganyu wanted to give it her all. She couldn't help smiling, feeling a warmth she hadn't known in centuries.
Duel Monsters truly was something magical.
Keqing had begun the duel with five cards. After using [Swordsoul of Mo Ye] to Synchro Summon [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao], both effects had resolved—leaving her with six cards in hand.
Glancing at her hand, Keqing nodded. She couldn't attack on her first turn, and she had already used her Normal Summon.
"I Set two cards face-down!"
"My turn ends!"
Promptly, Keqing ended her turn cleanly.
Now it was Ganyu's turn.
"My turn… Draw!"
Ganyu drew her card calmly, unconcerned with victory or defeat.
"[Naturia Blessing] (Quick-Play Spell)…" she murmured, studying the card's effects. In moments, she realized how useful it was.
Though it was a Spell Card, it had three effects:
Special Summon 1 [Naturia] monster from your hand or Graveyard.
Use [Naturia] monsters you control as material for a Synchro Summon.
Use [Naturia] monsters you control as material for a Fusion Summon.
Ganyu knew instantly—this card was key. It could enable an extra Summon, Synchro, or even Fusion!
She took action.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card—[Naturia Blessing]!"
As she played the card, sunlight streamed across the Duel Stage, and a warm spring breeze swept through. Even the spectators could feel the gentle warmth.
When the wind subsided, a small sunflower with a tiny human face stretched and appeared on Ganyu's field.
"[Naturia Blessing] effect one—Special Summon one [Naturia] monster from my hand or Graveyard!"
"I Special Summon [Naturia Sunflower]!"
[Naturia Sunflower] EARTH│Level 2│Plant│500 ATK / 0 DEF
The sunflower girl looked shy and bashful—adorable and full of charm.
"Ah!?"
"Miss Ganyu's [Naturia Sunflower] is cute, but… only 500 ATK!?"
"That's so weak!"
"How is that supposed to fight a 2800-ATK [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao]!?"
"There must be a reason she summoned it…"
"Never underestimate any monster~"
Indeed, Ganyu had her reasons. [Naturia Sunflower] could negate the effects of opposing monsters. She had called it forth as a line of defense… otherwise, Keqing's oppressive field might stop her next plays entirely.
...
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