"Such high attack power... Medusa, big sis is definitely going to get ravaged to death by him! You have to protect me, okay?"
Euryale hid behind Medusa, pretending to be terrified.
"I'm not ravaging anyone, okay?!"
Shirou Emiya didn't want his reputation tarnished and quickly corrected her. "I'll end this quickly."
"Another effect of [Unlimited Blade Works] — as long as this card is face-up, [Shirou Emiya] gains the same ability as Archer to destroy cards by releasing equipped weapons."
"So, first, I release [False Spiral Sword] to destroy [Medusa]!"
Shirou Emiya mimicked Archer's movements, firing the Spiral Sword like an arrow, sending Medusa straight to the graveyard.
[Shirou Emiya] ATK: 4100 → 3600
Matou LP: 2500 → 2000
"Next target: [Euryale]! Emiya-kun, I feel like you and Gilgamesh might get along — your effects are quite similar."
"With his personality, he'd definitely blow a fuse. I don't want to be turned into a pincushion."
Shirou disagreed with Rin's comment — he'd consider it lucky if he didn't get into a fight with Gilgamesh.
Again, the card released was [Caladbolg II]. Unlike Gate of Babylon, [Unlimited Blade Works] didn't require differently named equipment cards. By continuously releasing Spiral Swords, Shirou could mimic Gilgamesh's effects.
[Shirou Emiya] ATK: 3600 → 3100
Matou Sakura LP: 2000 → 1500
"No matter what [Temple of Gorgon] does, I won't give you the chance! Shirou Emiya, destroy the back row [Stheno] too!"
Rin had no intention of letting things spiral out of control here.
"So heartless. Even hiding here couldn't save me. Medusa's little Master, I'll be leaving first."
Even as she was pierced by a Spiral Sword, Stheno smiled gently.
[Shirou Emiya] ATK: 3100 → 2600
Matou Sakura LP: 1500 → 1000
"Last target — that face-down card!"
Rin was closing in on victory, and this time she wouldn't stumble. Destroying Sakura's entire back row meant no possible countermeasures.
The released Kanshou and Bakuya obliterated Sakura's last set card.
[Shirou Emiya] ATK: 2600 → 2100
"Too bad, big sis — that card was the trap [Temple of Blood]. Its primary effect is to destroy one of your own cards, then destroy one of your opponent's. But that was sealed by [Servant Kiritsugu]'s effect. I'll activate the second effect: when destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard, I can place up to two Servants from the graveyard back into the Spell/Trap zone as Continuous Spell Cards."
Medusa and Euryale reappeared in Matou Sakura's back row.
Now, Shirou only had one Noble Phantasm left. His arsenal was almost depleted.
"Then, I release the final Equip Card to destroy [Euryale]!"
"Clearly, Medusa is the bigger threat!"
Euryale glared angrily at Rin.
[Shirou Emiya] ATK: 2100 → 1600
"Entering the Battle Phase. If I can land the attack, 1600 is enough. But I'm sure you have a counter, Sakura. [Shirou Emiya], direct attack!"
"I'm sorry, Sakura!"
Shirou didn't know why he was dueling Sakura, but under the rules, he had to follow Rin's commands. He projected his black and white blades and slashed toward Sakura.
"Senpai, I won't make it hard for you. [Temple of Gorgon]'s effect — release one Continuous Spell from the back row to negate an attack!"
Medusa blocked the fatal blow for Sakura.
"Nice job, Sakura! I end my turn."
[Servant Kiritsugu] ATK: 900 → 1800
"My turn! Draw!"
Sakura looked at her card, a bit troubled — it was a form Medusa really disliked, just like she herself loathed the Black Holy Grail form in Kariya's deck. It wasn't a do-or-die moment.
"Sakura, don't worry about me."
Medusa had been silently waiting at Sakura's side. From her expression, she already knew what card it was.
"Just go ahead."
Sakura nodded gratefully.
"I activate the Spell Card [Gorgon Fusion]! I banish three [Gorgon] Servants from the field and graveyard to Special Summon [Gorgon]!"
The ground rumbled. A serpent body as large as a mountain tore through the earth. The Queen of Beasts descended.
[Gorgon] ATK: Avenger, Level 9, 3500
An enormous Servant appeared, shocking everyone with her scale and immense power.
"So many humans… so densely packed, like insects… disgusting!"
Gorgon tried to lash out with her tail, but the rules of the duel prevented her from acting freely.
"This place isn't right. A Noble Phantasm like this…?"
"Wait — isn't she supposed to be Medusa?"
Sakura only just noticed that Medusa was still beside her. If it had been another form, the original would've been pulled in as well.
"Weird indeed, but Caster's Noble Phantasm pulling in alternate worldline Servants isn't surprising. [Gorgon]'s effect — upon successful summon, select up to three of the opponent's Servants and treat them as Continuous Spells placed face-up in my Spell/Trap zone! And for each Continuous Spell in the back row, Gorgon gains 500 ATK! Forced Seal: Pandemonium Temple!"
"You dare give me orders… what?"
Gorgon was shocked as her body followed Sakura's commands.
"Not a chance!"
Rin knew if Gorgon's effect resolved, the duel was lost.
"From the graveyard — [Emerald Sorcery]'s effect! I banish this card and another [Gem] spell to negate your targeting effect!"
"Lowly magic dares…!"
Gorgon couldn't believe her Noble Phantasm was blocked. But no one really cared, since no one liked her much.
"In that case, I Normal Summon [Matou Sakura (Imaginary)]!"
From a rift of black-purple light, Sakura emerged — a form completely different from Shinji's.
[Matou Sakura (Imaginary)]Level 3, ATK: 1800
"My effect: once per turn, target one face-up Attack Position monster your opponent controls — banish it until your next Standby Phase. After activation, I can't declare an attack. Sorry, Senpai — you'd just bring more troublesome Servants if destroyed, so I'll have to temporarily remove you."
Shirou was swallowed by the black-purple dimensional space.
"Battle Phase! [Gorgon] attacks [Servant Kiritsugu]!"
"What a pain of a job."
Kiritsugu knew he wasn't a match for Gorgon, but he charged anyway.
As expected, he was turned to stone and appeared in Sakura's back row.
Rin LP: 3500 → 1800
"[Gorgon] can't be destroyed by effects. Even if destroyed by battle, she can release a Continuous Spell in the back row as a replacement. Sis, it's over."
"It's not over till it's over."
Rin smiled. She still had a way to win.
"My turn! Draw!"
"Sakura, you're right — it's over. But I'm the one who's won!"
"I Normal Summon [Tohsaka Tokiomi]! With Father's effect, I add [Gem Sword Zelretch] from my deck to my hand!"
[Tohsaka Tokiomi] ATK: 1200
Sakura realized Rin's plan. "You're going to use Gem Magic to bypass [Gorgon]? But Tokiomi alone doesn't have enough uses."
"It's enough. [Gem Sword]'s effect requires banishing a [Tohsaka] Servant from the graveyard to equip. I equip [Gem Sword] to Father."
Tokiomi grasped the legendary sword, visibly excited.
[Tohsaka Tokiomi] ATK: 1200 → 1700
"[Gem Sword]'s effect — while face-up, [Gem] spells cannot be negated. Once per turn, search a [Gem] Spell from the deck (except itself)!"
Rin LP: 1800 → 2050
Sakura LP: 1000 → 750
"I add [Gem Magic Bullet]! Once per turn, it deals 500 damage to the opponent. It's over, Sakura!"
Rin's deck couldn't beat Gorgon head-on, but winning didn't mean defeating the Servant.
"I'll make it up to you in the future. Forgive me, Sakura — this is the last time I'll beat you."
The Magic Bullet in Rin's hand delivered the final judgment.
Sakura LP: 750 → 250 → 0