"The effect of 'Morning Glory' activates: When an opponent's Servant declares an attack, send this card from your Hand Card to the Graveyard and switch that Servant to Defense Position."
Morning Glory leaped from Jiang You's Hand Card. As a Trigger Effect, it didn't require targeting, so Gawain's immunity to effect targeting until the end of the turn couldn't prevent it.
Gawain: Attack Power 7500 → Defense Power 6000
Forced into Defense Position, Gawain could no longer attack. With no other cards on the field capable of action, Jiang You breezed through the turn.
"So you're avoiding attacks this way?" Gawain scoffed.
He couldn't imagine using a child as a meat shield to evade attacks. "This is exactly the kind of despicable tactic I'd expect from an Assassin. Unable to win a fair fight, you resort to such underhanded methods!"
"You so-called Knights only spout empty platitudes," the Fanatic retorted.
Such words were intolerable to her. Just recently, she had witnessed the faith of all the Hassans—a vision far more terrifying than she had ever imagined, a synonym for death itself. Now, she felt she could die without regret.
"Besides, even in a direct confrontation, you wouldn't stand a chance against the Founder!"
"Assassin in direct combat?"
Facing his mortal enemy Gawain, Jiang You showed no pretense of humility. In his mind, among those who engaged in direct combat but weren't Caster types outside their own territory, Assassins were the weakest. Without resorting to dishonorable tactics like ambushes, they were generally no match for anyone.
"I'm sorry, I can't imagine it."
"No need to imagine it. You'll find out soon enough."
Though Jiang You said this, he was actually referring to the Light Curtain. He had initiated a Shadow Game against Gawain solely to obtain his Blessed Spell Card, with no intention of taking his life. Gawain would still witness King Hassan's earth-shattering strike.
As for why he hadn't summoned King Hassan directly, the card in his hand was Delusional Illusion, lacking the necessary conditions to summon the King. While using Bitter Choice would suffice for summoning Hassan, it wouldn't guarantee obtaining the ritual spell card To Sound the Funeral Bell.
Therefore, there was only one way to secure victory now: Gawain's Saintly Number was 3, a stroke of destiny.
"My turn—"
Jiang You activated Fate's Draw again, a Unique Skill inherent to his status as a Servant, making it a fair move.
"Draw!"
"Gawain, your Holy Number is three pairs, right?" Jiang You suddenly asked a seemingly obvious question.
As Jiang You held the card, Gawain sensed an overwhelmingly malevolent aura emanating from it. A sudden sensation of weightlessness washed over him, as if he were plummeting into an endless Abyss, the descent marked by a relentless feeling of falling into corruption. Yet within that Abyss lurked a sliver of holiness, an inexplicable paradox that baffled Gawain.
"Too bad that number has betrayed you now. Release the three Servants on your field to summon her—that demonic Bodhisattva, Kiara Sesshouin!"
In an instant, all of Gawain's Servants vanished, released from their bonds. Deprived of their targets, his Blessings and Weapons were banished to the Graveyard.
A lotus platform bloomed, revealing Kiara Sesshouin stretching her exquisite figure, her allure and compassionate holiness existing in stark contradiction.
[ Kiara Sesshouin ]: Attack Power 0.
"Ara, it's you again. Did you summon me this time?" Kiara Sesshouin's gaze was as silken as her words, her lips curving into a knowing smile as she looked at Jiang You. "So, you succumbed to your desires and obtained me after all."
"This is the first time I've ever used the word 'filth' to describe light."
As the Sun Knight, Gawain's devotion to light was beyond question. Yet the "holy light" emanating from Sesshouin gave him a sense of corruption. Rather than warmth, it felt like a sticky, tepid moisture that made him deeply uneasy. It was practically blasphemy against light itself. "Your trump card is monstrously evil!"
Ignoring Gawain, Jiang You locked eyes with Kiara Sesshouin. Though her lips and eyes brimmed with smiles, he easily detected the utter lack of genuine emotion. To her, he was merely a tool.
Jiang You knew that playing along with her words wouldn't earn him any Affection. Conquering someone like her required more than mere conversation. "If I could, I'd love to chat with you properly, but not now. Kiara Sesshouin's effect: when specially summoned, Special Summon one card from the Graveyard to the opponent's field. I choose Hassan of the Shining Star!"
Hassan of the Shining Star: Attack Power 1600.
"Then I shall eagerly await your next move," Kiara Sesshouin replied. Her boundless tolerance meant she almost always offered a positive response.
"Shall I handle her?"
Shining Star glanced at Jiang You, surprised to be summoned by someone else. However, he didn't ask further questions, recalling Jiang You's presence at the founder's ritual. Since Jiang You's head was still firmly attached to his neck, Shining Star reasoned that he must have passed the ritual and gained King Hassan's approval. His only task now was to provide full support.
"With my current capabilities, we're still short. We need more manpower."
"It's already enough! Kiara Sesshouin's effect!"
Jiang You glanced at Gawain's Graveyard. No Graveyard Effects were active, and he had no cards in hand, leaving him no room to maneuver. He simply had to selectively reveal Kiara Sesshouin's effects.
"While this card is face-up, it cannot be placed in Defense Position. Additionally, while this card is on the field, any battle damage dealt to the Main Battler controlling it is doubled!"
"Enter the Battle Phase!"
With time pressing, there was no need to reveal the back row.
"Shining Star attacks Kiara Sesshouin!"
"Shining Star's effect activates! By paying 2000 Life Points, I increase its Attack Power by 2000!"
Though an increase of just 500 would secure victory, Jiang You couldn't let Gawain's earlier Attack Power surge go unanswered. Big numbers! Big numbers!
Jiang You LP 4000 → LP 2000.
Shining Star Attack Power 1600 → 3600.
"Hassan of the Shining Star, grant me victory!"
Hassan of the Shining Star, his Magic Circuit ablaze, transformed into a meteor and hurtled toward Kiara Sesshouin. The resulting shockwave sent the observing Knights reeling.
"I've been waiting for our paths to cross again. Don't keep me waiting too long."
Kiara Sesshouin spread her arms wide, welcoming Hassan's attack with an expression of saintly compassion, as if bestowing salvation upon all.
The colossal 7,200 combat damage struck Gawain directly, marking the most devastating post-battle calculation in history. Gawain seemed to vanish from the spot, only to slam into the Light Curtain behind him a moment later, creating shimmering ripples.
Gawain LP 3000 → LP 0!