Although Ereshkigal was immune to destruction by battle and card effects, Jiang You still had cards that could deal with her. Whether it was the cuck Noble Phantasm from Medea's workshop or the Spell Cards that could be used in conjunction with Hassan's Liberation to destroy cards, he had answers for her strategy.
"And now for my own effect: when Tribute Summoned, add one 'Underworld's Blessing' from the Deck to my Hand!"
Ereshkigal drew a card from her Deck. "Then, I activate the Continuous Spell Card 'Underworld's Blessing'! While this card is face-up on the field, all allied servants gain 1000 Attack and Defense Points! They're also treated as 'Underworld' servants. Furthermore, all other face-up cards on our side of the field, except this card, cannot be destroyed by card effects."
Ereshkigal enhanced her field advantage and reinforced her Field Spell Card with a layer of protection. She also possessed an effect that allowed her to sacrifice an Underworld servant on the field as a substitute when targeted by an effect. Combined with her ability to Special Summon a destroyed opponent's servant to her own field once per turn, it was a formidable strategy. In short, Ereshkigal was a master of ntr tactics.
Ereshkigal's Attack Power: 3200 → 4200
Undead Token's Attack Power: 500 → 1500
"Then I'll set two cards face-down in my Backrow and end my turn."
Ereshkigal had always been isolated, so her Deck primarily revolved around herself. Otherwise, she wouldn't have seized every opportunity to steal Rin Tohsaka's body from Ishtar.
"My turn! Draw!"
Jiang You was relieved he had the foresight to switch to his Hassan Deck. Any other Deck would have struggled against this setup.
"First, I Normal Summon Hundred-Faced Hassan and activate her effect to Special Summon as many copies of her as possible from the Deck!"
Several Hundred-Faced Hassans leaped out from behind Jiang You, materializing in perfect unison across the Battle Zone.
Hundred Faces' Attack Power: 800 x 2
Hundred-Faced Hassan (Host): Attack Power: 800.
Morning Glory: Attack Power 0.
There were only four Hundred Faces because Ereshkigal had previously sent one to the graveyard with her Field Spell Card, and another was the Hassan of the Shining Star. Since he had no synergy with Jiang You's deck, he could only be used for basic card retrieval.
"Now, for the Hundred-Faced (Host)'s effect, I declare Spell Card!"
This choice was simple: the majority of Jiang You's deck consisted of Spell Cards.
His luck held this time, perhaps as compensation for previous poor draws. He drew Encyclopedia Mastery, perfect for destroying Underworld's Blessing.
"Now! I activate the Trap Card Soul-Binding Spear Cage! This card allows me to target a servant on the field for destruction. If successful, all cards with the same name are banished from the game!"
This card was arguably the bane of Artoria and the Hundred Faces' existence—and likely Elizabeth's as well.
"Resign yourself to becoming a member of the Underworld!"
"Not so fast! I activate Battle Retreat!"
Jiang You's entire deck strategy hinged on the Hundred Faces. He couldn't afford to let Ereshkigal banish her so easily. "I return the targeted Hundred-Faced to my Hand and draw a card!"
The Soul-Binding Spear Cage, which had risen from the ground, lost its target when Hundred Faces left the field, rendering its activation invalid.
"Next, I activate Stealth Change! I return Morning Glory to my hand! Then I Normal Summon Hundred Faces from my hand again!"
Ereshkigal's deck clearly contained very few servants. The non-targeting defensive shift of Morning Glory was perfect for preserving her life points.
"Then I activate Encyclopedia Mastery! By Tributing one Hundred Faces, I destroy your Underworld's Blessing!"
This card protected other traps and spells from destruction while boosting field attack power, so it had to be dealt with first.
"Finally, it's my turn to say this: Dream on! I activate the Counter Trap Card Seven Gates of Inquiry! This card can be activated when an opponent targets one of my cards with an effect. They must flip the top seven cards of their deck and declare a card type and quantity. If the actual number of that card type among the flipped cards doesn't match their declaration, the effect is negated. I then get to choose one of those seven cards to add to my hand, nullifying its effects!"
This card represents the seven stone gates Ishtar faced, which could only be passed by answering all questions correctly. It mirrors the legend of Ereshkigal taking Ishtar's treasures.
"What a harsh declaration! Why don't you just activate the effect already?"
Jiang You was speechless. There were a total of 24 possible declarations. Although One-Shot Kill! Iaijutsu Draw might offer similar odds based on pure luck, this card would be perfect for making a viral video if it hit.
"I declare Spell Card, 4 cards."
Seven cards were flipped over, revealing three Spell Cards. The destruction of his backrow was negated once again.
"Can't I just take them all? After all, we're supposed to leave something behind at each Stone Gate."
Ereshkigal flipped through Jiang You's cards one by one. With no way to see their effects, she could only guess based on their names and character titles.
"You really have the audacity to try and steal seven cards at once?" Jiang You thought, wondering if Ereshkigal had completely abandoned any sense of shame. Why not just declare victory and be done with it?
"Didn't we agree to recreate the legends and experiences? I think we can get even closer to the original story."
Then Ereshkigal spotted a card: Romulus Quirinus.
"Y-you... Wait a minute!"
Ereshkigal's finger trembled as she pointed at the card. "Your Deck is supposed to reflect your own experiences, right? Why is he in your Deck? He's from a completely different era and region than Hassan Sabbah!"
Ereshkigal snatched the card in shock, adding it to her hand. She absolutely wouldn't let Jiang You play it. "I've been meaning to ask: you're clearly of Eastern descent, so why is your Deck based on Hassan Sabbah? And now you have the founder of Rome too?"
Seeing Romulus Quirinus in Ereshkigal's hand, Jiang You knew he couldn't let her have more than three servants on the field. Otherwise, he'd be the one getting pummeled by a Grand Servant.
"I don't have my own history, or rather, I'm still creating it. Think of me as a special Heroic Spirit—the bonds I forge are re-recorded into the Throne of Heroes. I came here specifically to forge a bond with you."
Jiang You slipped in a bit of his own agenda.
"That way, whenever I come out to play, I can bring you along too."
"As if I didn't summon you here in the first place!"
Ereshkigal scoffed at Jiang You's smooth talk. If she hadn't wanted to alleviate the crisis in Uruk, they never would have met.
"I'll prove myself later. For now, let's settle this with a Duel. I overlay two Hundred Faces here for an Xyz Summon! Fanatic!"
The two adult Hundred Faces transformed into streams of light that swirled into a vortex, coalescing into a seemingly ordinary girl radiating murderous intent.
[Fanatic]: Defense Power 1000.