Friday, 9 PM.
Anna noticed early on that her father seemed a bit different today compared to usual.
Although she was just an eleven-year-old elementary school student, Anna was more mature than most of her peers. She didn't want to admit it, but this was not unrelated to the upheavals in her family during her early years.
Before she started elementary school, her mother passed away. A crucial part of her small world was taken away, leaving her with only her father.
But if there was anything she could call fortunate, it was that she had an exceptionally good father.
Even though her father's education level was not high, which limited him to doing physical labor, he insisted on working three jobs year after year to provide the best for his daughter.
And on the second Friday of every month, he'd do his best to set aside anything he was doing to take his daughter to her favorite amusement park.
That was both to make his daughter happy and for himself.
Because only Anna's smile was the greatest motivation for him to get up and face each new day.
... At least once upon a time.
But at some point, things seemed to have changed a bit.
Though there was no concrete evidence, Anna felt that her father might have quit a job — or perhaps more than one.
However, this did not free up any more of his time. Instead, she recently noticed that her father seemed busier than he had been in past years.
He got up earlier in the morning and came home later at night. His whereabouts all day long were a mystery, and even when she asked, he never disclosed even a single word.
Even the regular amusement park visits each month were canceled later on. This had never happened, even when her father was busiest.
On the other hand, she also noticed that her father seemed more energetic than ever in the past years. He left for work each day full of energy, returned home in high spirits, sometimes humming a tune, and overall looked as if he had grown several years younger.
It appeared as though he had found some new spiritual solace.
Anna initially thought this might be a good thing — regardless of the reason, at least her father had finally emerged from the shadows, becoming better.
But it wasn't until today, until she was brought by her father, holding her small hand with his rough, calloused one, to this altar featuring a giant snake sculpture, and was kindly told by her father that her young, pure soul was honored to be chosen as a sacrifice for the great God of Orichalcos, did she realize.
It turned out that at some unknown point, her father had already left her as well.
That night, she saw her father donning a rather silly black robe with a hood, resembling a background extra in a movie.
There were others dressed exactly like him, seemingly his new companions. Anna didn't know the others, but she recognized Uncle Bacchus — one of her father's few friends, who used to be a taxi driver.
Uncle Bacchus was also once a very good person. When her father was busy, this uncle sometimes looked after Anna. She remembered going to the amusement park together, and the uncle also gave her a beautifully wrapped box of chocolates.
But now he was wearing the same dull black outfit, looking rather silly.
When she came to her senses, she was already standing at the center of a huge altar. It was precisely built beneath the gaping maw of the giant snake sculpture, making her look like a carefully prepared dish standing atop it. She noticed a six-pointed star imprint beneath her feet, resembling the work of a medieval mage from the movies.
Though she didn't quite understand what was happening, she guessed she was going to die.
Yet, her father and uncle both beamed with joy below the altar.
At this moment, Anna couldn't help but recall the fairy tales her mother used to read to her when she was very young.
In every story, whenever a crisis befell a princess, there was always a handsome, brave prince to wield the divine sword, riding on a white horse to rescue her.
... It seemed fairy tales were just that, fairy tales.
The imprint of the six-pointed star glowed with a green light; the enormous array was activated. The snake's mouth illuminated with a dazzling green light, enveloping Anna entirely, extracting her soul through some evil, ancient ritual...
... Then the light disappeared.
The ritual was forcibly halted.
The faces of the believers quickly changed, and someone shouted, "The barrier has been breached!"
"Who dares to disrupt the Sacred Ceremony?"
The door blasted open with a "boom," and Anna widened her eyes in surprise, feeling a tinge of expectation in her heart.
Her prince had indeed appeared, fierce and unstoppable, emanating an aura of indomitable battle spirit and murderous intent.
However, there were no white horses or divine swords, but only...
... Flashy animal headgear?
"Found it, found it! There really is a nest here!"
"Why are there so few monsters? There's not enough for everyone..."
"Look, there's a loli over there too!"
"Damn, lolis are treasures of humanity! No need to elaborate; these bastards tonight must die!"
The Doma Believers were clearly also quite annoyed by the "disruption of the Sacred Ceremony." Several quickly activated their Duel Discs, with Anna's Uncle Bacchus taking the lead — appearing to be the highest-ranking among them.
"Are you lackeys from Pegasus' side? Courting death," the believer said with a sullen face. "Then allow you to serve as replacements, as offerings for the great God of Orichalcos!"
Before the other players could speak, Madam Yue Hua dashed out from the crowd.
"I'll be your opponent!"
Following this declaration, several players could not help but look sideways.
"Is the lady really going up?"
"Can she handle it? This dude looks like an elite monster, might be a bit tough..."
"I remember the streamer not being able to beat anything above simple AIs, struggling with intermediates?"
Madam Yue Hua was immediately displeased.
How can you people groundlessly accuse someone of such baseless things?
No matter what, I am still the woman beside Youyu-san; how could I possibly be that incompetent!
I even beat intermediate AIs before!
Madam Yue Hua, full of indignation, activated her Duel Disc and pulled out her secret card deck, which she had never used in a duel. (Yet it's a mix of acrobatics)
I must use this duel to prove myself!
I, Madam Yue Hua, am not just a vase!
"Hmph, sending a delicate little girl, huh?" Bacchus sneered. "You really underestimate me. Very well, let me show you the greatness of the power of Orichalcos, and you shall be the first offering!"
"Duel!"x2