"Hundred-Faced (Host)'s effect activates! Declare a card type. As usual, I declare Spell Card."
"Naturally, I'll choose the card type most abundant in my Deck. I refuse to believe I'll fail to declare correctly this time."
The revealed card was To Sound the Funeral Bell, which Jiang You successfully added to his hand. It seemed the old man downstairs was finally exerting his influence. Next turn, if he could draw a Hassan with Fate's Draw, he'd have the six necessary to perform the Ritual Summon.
"Next, I activate Battle Retreat. Return Morning Glory to my hand and draw one card."
Morning Glory, being a noble card that avoids Hand Traps, didn't need to bait out any effects since it would be destroyed at the start of the next turn anyway. Jiang You simply returned it to his Hand Card.
"Next, I activate Tomes of the Hundred. Once per turn, by Tributing a Hassan Sabbah on the field, I can either destroy a card on the field or draw a card. I'll Tribute Hundred Faces to destroy your backrow's face-down card!"
Although Camelot's resource replenishment effect was also troublesome, Jiang You prioritized dealing with the backrow card first to prevent any unexpected effects from activating.
The shadow formed by Hundred Faces crashed into the set card in the backrow, sending both to the Graveyard.
Jiang You glanced at the revealed card: Sword of the Chosen King, a Continuous Trap Card. While it seemed somewhat absurd for such a card to be classified as a Trap Card, there didn't seem to be any fundamental issues with its categorization. The card could be activated when a servant declared an attack, equipping itself to that servant. This would negate the servant's effects and set its original Attack Power to 2500. Furthermore, as long as this card remained face-up on the field, the equipped servant could not be destroyed by battle. It was a truly bizarre effect, and Jiang You couldn't help but sense a reference to something.
"Activating the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Encyclopedia of Knowledge'! Based on the number of 'Hassan' on the field, I activate three effects: the Attack Power of all 'Hassan' increases by 500 until the end of this turn! I target and destroy one Spell/Trap Card in your back row! Then, I draw one card!"
Jiang You chose to destroy the Lion King's last Set Card.
"Activating the Continuous Spell Card 'The Name of the Knight'! Its original effect restricts both players' servants to Attack Position and prevents the activation of Set Cards during the Battle Phase. However, this card also has a second effect: it activates when this Set Card leaves the field due to an opponent's effect, whether sent to the Graveyard or banished. Special Summon one 'Knights of the Round Table' servant from the Deck or Extra Deck! Those who violate the Knight's Oath shall face retribution!"
Jiang You's destruction triggered this card's second effect.
"Great, now I've stirred up a hornet's nest!"
While the card was limited to Knights of the Round Table, it was actually... not good at all.
The Lion King's Extra Deck contained no surprises—naturally, she possessed herself.
"I Special Summon Lancer Artoria Alter from the Extra Deck!"
The Lion King didn't summon another copy of herself, suggesting that special form cards typically have only one copy. It's also possible that the Xyz card was too weak without Xyz Materials.
Lancer Artoria Alter: 8-Star Lancer with 2500 Attack Power.
Her Attack Power was 1000 lower than the Lion King's, but considering the Lion King isn't merely White Lancer Artoria but a goddess, this is understandable.
Amidst a fierce black storm, a jet-black steed resembling a nightmare galloped onto the battlefield, its rider, a black-armored knight, thrusting a crimson-gold spear into the fray!
Lancer Artoria Alter: Attack Power 2500 → 3500.
"Summoned in this form? What new crisis has befallen my homeland?"
This was the King of Knights from an alternate timeline—one where she failed to return to Avalon and remains bound to her homeland, an undead spirit eternally fighting to protect her kingdom.
"It's me in this form, but something's different... To think I would be summoned by myself. What a strange experience. Oh? Is this the effect of a Noble Phantasm?"
Lancer Artoria Alter glanced at Jiang You a few times. As a Heroic Spirit, she was accustomed to bizarre occurrences, but she remained more focused on this alternate version of herself.
"England... no, it should be Camelot now. Has some problem arisen? Is he our enemy?"
"Rather than an enemy, it's more like a disagreement," Jiang You interjected. The Lion King didn't seem inclined to elaborate, so Jiang You took the opportunity to explain the situation in detail, hoping to improve his rapport with Lancer Artoria Alter.
"Not even resist?" Lancer Artoria Alter glared at the Lion King with contempt. As an Alter, she was more willful and emotional, paradoxically making her seem more human. "If I were you, I would never make such a decision! I would crush anyone who dared stand in my way!"
"Servant over there! You must win!" Lancer Artoria Alter commanded Jiang You, her voice leaving no room for refusal.
Jiang You glanced at his mission list. Excellent, I've found the source of Lancer Artoria Alter. Now the only issue is the Fusion materials.
"Even in this form, I wouldn't dare claim victory."
The Lion King remained unfazed by his gaze, her rationality absolute. She weighed every advantage and disadvantage, choosing the most pragmatic course of action.
"Enough with the small talk. Lancer Artoria Alter's effect activates: equip yourself with the Equip Spell Card, Rhongomyniad, the Inverted Holy Lance, from your Deck!"
Similarly, Saber Alter likely possessed the effect to summon the Inverted Sword of Promised Victory, though Xiao An lacked that card.
The inverted Holy Lance's effects mirrored those of its original counterpart: a 1000-point Attack Power boost. However, its immunity to battle destruction was replaced by immunity to effect destruction and inability to be Tributed. The delayed Tributing effect that would send all servants on the field to the Graveyard was also gone, replaced by a sealing effect that prevented the opponent from activating Spell or Trap Cards from the moment an attack was declared until the damage calculation phase.
Furthermore, the Lion King's original material nullification ability—which negated one instance of material theft—was now limited to once per turn.
Jiang You glanced at the field. The Lion King couldn't protect Saber Alter. Since she knew Saber Alter would be sent to the Graveyard by Rhongomyniad, she must have cards in hand capable of summoning from the Graveyard.
"Then, I'll activate the Spell Card 'Dagger Throw' again! This card can only be used once per turn, and only when a 'Hassan Sabbah' servant is on the field. Destroy a servant with 2 or fewer Stars, or one face-down card in the back row!"
With all the Lion King's cards revealed, it was time to act.
"I'll destroy Camelot!"
The pure white holy city crumbled into sand, dissolving into the wind.
"Next, I'll overlay three Hundred Faces cards to Xyz Summon Fanatic!"
Since the Hundred Faces would be sent to the Graveyard anyway, they might as well be used to their full potential.