After Keqing once again summoned [Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao], the spectators were filled with curiosity.
Standing on the sidelines, Xingqiu analyzed aloud:
"I thought Lady Keqing would Synchro Summon a monster whose Attack surpassed [Naturia Leodrake] this time."
"I didn't expect it would still be [Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao]."
"Though that card is powerful and has many effects, it's still no match for Miss Ganyu's [Naturia Leodrake]."
As a disciple of the Guhua Clan—versed in both spear and sword—Xingqiu held great affection for Keqing's [Swordsoul] Deck. Monsters modeled after the Ten Famous Swords—[Chixiao], [Moye], [Taia]—just these few had his blood surging with excitement! He felt both anticipation and regret that he hadn't purchased that random Deck before Keqing.
And since it was a random set, Xingqiu didn't even know when he might draw one himself. If he opened packs one by one, who knew how many months—or years—it would take?
What Xingqiu didn't know was that Luya already possessed the [Card Shredder], which could break down cards into Card Dust—then use that dust to craft any card desired.
However, crafting cards was extremely expensive. To build a full desired Deck, one would have to pulverize countless cards just to gather enough dust.
That was precisely why, though many in Liyue enjoyed Duel Monsters as entertainment, few actually participated in duels. Too costly.
Thus, Luya became even more determined to develop the [Portable Game Console] and build online dueling systems. He'd drain the gold from wealthy players like Xingqiu, Hu Tao, and Ningguang with physical cards—then use the cheaper, more accessible digital Yu-Gi-Oh! duels to draw in both rich and common alike!
Though ambitious, Luya felt it was entirely achievable. He would have his disciples, Xianyun and Guizhong, create a prototype of the [Portable Game Console], calculate production costs, and begin mass manufacturing soon after.
Meanwhile, Keqing and Ganyu's duel continued.
Keqing's excitement flared. "I activate [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan]'s effect! By discarding one [Swordsoul] card from my hand, I can Special Summon it—and then Special Summon a [Swordsoul Token]!"
"I discard [The Golden Swordsoul] from my hand!"
Keqing discarded the [The Golden Swordsoul] she'd added earlier via [Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao]'s effect, activating [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan]'s ability.
"I Special Summon [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan]!"
A black-scaled draconic tactician, wielding a golden sword and dressed in a black robe and feathered hat, appeared on her field.
[Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] FIRE│Level 6│Wyrm│1200 ATK / 2300 DEF
At the same time, a colorless copy appeared beside it—
[Swordsoul Token] WATER│Level 4│Wyrm / Tuner│0 ATK / 0 DEF
"Whoa!!"
"Ten stars!!!"
"Ten stars total!"
"Is Lady Keqing about to bring out another Synchro Monster?!"
"I'm fired up already!"
"Ten stars means it must be powerful!"
"Another new sword from Lady Keqing's arsenal… I can't wait to see it!"
"Me too! Her Swordsoul Deck is just so cool!"
Amid the audience's eager anticipation, Keqing began her second Synchro Summon of the turn.
"I tune Level 6 [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] with Level 4 [Swordsoul Token]! The King among Swords shall now descend—behold the might that makes all blades bow!"
"Synchro Summon!"
"Sword and shadow as one—!!"
"[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying]!!"
Ten stars intertwined upon Keqing's field. A blood-red greatsword descended from the heavens! A massive crimson storm erupted across the Duel Stage, shaking even the spectators' souls.
The air filled with the hum of swords and the weight of a blood-hued blade aura. A white-haired general clad in heavy crimson armor—[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying]—descended from the sky. Even [Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao] kneeled before it.
[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying] WATER│Level 10│Wyrm│3000 ATK / 3000 DEF
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
The crowd erupted in excitement at Chengying's arrival.
"Another legendary blade!!!"
"It looks incredibly powerful!!"
"Wow!"
"This must be Lady Keqing's strongest Synchro Monster—[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying]!!"
"Unbelievable!!"
"ATK and DEF both 3000!!"
"Offense and defense in one—so strong!!"
"What an overwhelming aura!!!"
While the crowd cheered Keqing's summon, she smiled confidently. "I activate [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan]'s effect!"
The phantom of [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] emerged from Keqing's Graveyard, hurling his golden sword toward Ganyu!
"When sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material—[Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] inflicts 1200 damage to the opponent!"
Ganyu took 1200 damage from Longyuan's effect, leaving her with [Ganyu, LP: 2800].
Keqing showed no mercy. "I activate my Trap Card—[Swordsoul Assessment]!"
A crimson-armored beast appeared above Keqing, crushing five cards in her Graveyard: [The Abyss Dragon Swordsoul], [The Golden Swordsoul], [Swordsoul of Taia], [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan], and [Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao].
"[Swordsoul Assessment]—I can banish up to 5 [Swordsoul] or Wyrm monsters from my Graveyard, and one chosen monster gains 300 ATK for each card banished!"
[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying] instantly gained +1500 ATK.
Keqing continued, "Now, [Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying]'s own effect! Once per turn, when a card is banished—banish one card from your opponent's field and one from their Graveyard!"
"I choose to banish Miss Ganyu's [Naturia Leodrake] on the field—and [Naturia Sunflower] in her Graveyard!"
Chengying stepped forward and drove its massive scarlet sword into the ground. A gigantic blade aura erupted, cutting through Ganyu's [Naturia Leodrake] and continuing onward to erase [Naturia Sunflower] from her Graveyard!
"Ah!?"
"Miss Ganyu's [Naturia Leodrake]—it's gone?!"
"My goodness—it's just gone like that!"
"That effect is insane!"
"With that, Miss Ganyu's sure to lose!"
"Wait… look!!"
"[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying]… its ATK is rising!!"
"And Miss Ganyu's [Naturia Strawberry]'s ATK is dropping!!"
"What the—this is unreal!!"
[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying] not only banished cards but also possessed another ability. Its ATK and DEF increase by 100 for each banished card—and all opponent monsters lose 100 ATK and DEF for each banished card. A perfect balance of growth and decay—utterly terrifying!
At this point, a total of 9 cards had been banished.
That meant [Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying, ATK: 3000 → 3900]—and Ganyu's [Naturia Strawberry, ATK: 1600 → 700]. Adding in the +1500 ATK boost from [Swordsoul Assessment]—Chengying's total ATK reached 5400!
The crowd was in complete shock.
Keqing wasted no time. "Enter Battle Phase!"
Before anyone could react, she was already moving to end it—just like her real-life decisiveness: swift and absolute!
"[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying], attack [Naturia Strawberry]!"
The 5400 ATK Chengying gripped its enormous blade, eyes locked onto the trembling, 700 ATK [Naturia Strawberry]. Though tiny, it still stood bravely—yet Chengying did not waver.
With a single slash, crimson sword energy erupted. Before the energy even touched [Naturia Strawberry], it shattered apart! The blade aura pierced through all defenses and struck Ganyu directly!
4700 Battle Damage!
[Ganyu, LP: 0]
"Whoa! Lady Keqing wins!"
"That Synchro Summon and [Swordsoul] Deck are incredible!!"
"Too bad the [Random Theme Decks] are so expensive!"
"One set costs 100 million Mora…"
"My heart wants it, but my wallet says no…"
The duel ended—Ganyu had lost. Yet she wasn't discouraged.
"Hahaha That was an amazing duel I'll have to practice much harder from now on!"
Keqing nodded in approval. "Your [Naturia] Deck is truly strong… I nearly lost myself."
Though defeated, Ganyu felt her bond with her Deck—and with Liyue Harbor itself—grow even deeper.
As the duel between Ganyu and Keqing came to an end…
Yun Jin, who had gone to draft an affiliation contract for the Yun-Han Opera Troupe with Yanfei, now arrived at Luya's shop together with her.
Upon entering, Yanfei smiled brightly and greeted him:
"Haha, shopkeeper! We meet again~ I didn't expect your shop's fame to grow so much that even Liyue's top opera star, Yun Jin, would attach her troupe to your store!"
...
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