"Any condition at all?"
Melusine glanced at Tiamat. Decks were formed based on one's past experiences and future possibilities, so Tiamat must be someone very familiar to Jiang You, or perhaps someone with a close relationship to him. Tiamat had been calling herself "Mommy," which was odd, but Jiang You hadn't denied it. It was reasonable to assume a mother-son relationship, or at least a stepmother-son one. Though Jiang You appeared weak on the surface, his Noble Phantasms were absurdly powerful. Having a mother like Tiamat would explain a lot.
Therefore, if Jiang You were taken hostage, Tiamat could likely be manipulated. Of course, a Shadow Game wouldn't require such complications—winning was all that mattered.
"I want you to obey my every command from now on!"
With Tiamat as an ally, many things would become much easier to manage. Combined with Jiang You's Noble Phantasms, not even Morgan could stop Aurora from shining brightly. This was Aurora's only path to survival, and Melusine was prepared to gamble everything.
"?"
Jiang You thought to himself, Melusine is really going all out! "You're obsessed with Aurora. Think about yourself for once... But no, that won't work."
"Why not?"
Melusine carefully reread the rules. Theoretically, a Shadow Game cannot be refused.
"Are you trying to back out?"
"Because the stakes aren't equal. Shadow Games are fundamentally fair."
This fairness disregarded Deck strength. In Jiang You's eyes, it was no different from Melusine offering herself completely to him. "To take something from your opponent, you must place an equivalent price on the scales. If you want to steal someone's life, you must wager your own. My demands are far less severe than yours. So, if you lose, you'll obey my commands completely."
"...Fair enough."
Melusine gritted her teeth, staking her entire being on the gamble. Even with slim chances of victory, Jiang You's Noble Phantasms weren't without potential. His summons would bring the actual person to duel. If she could summon Aurora and explain the situation here, Aurora would understand and refrain from further action.
While she couldn't guarantee Jiang You wouldn't continue his assault afterward, at least she could ensure Aurora survived this ordeal unscathed.
"Then, the Duel continues!"
Jiang You slammed another Spell Card onto the field, determined to crush Melusine's hopes with this single move.
"Spell Card: Life Conversion! Designate a card name. Banish all copies of that card from both Decks. For each card banished, Special Summon a Lahmu Token to my field with the same level, Attack Power, and Defense Power as the banished card!"
Another targeted card, this one tested Jiang You's understanding of his opponent. While it might not be universally effective, for Jiang You, it was a devastating counter, capable of both killing and shattering his opponent's resolve. "I designate Aurora!"
"!"
Melusine's heart chilled as Jiang You saw through her strategy. His move not only thwarted her immediate plan but also blocked her next phase of deployment. Aurora was a Tuner card that could synchronize with Melusine's base form to unlock her True Name, boosting her combat prowess.
"Hmm, 1-Star, 1000 Attack Power, 0 Defense Power. Normal or Special Summon: add a Fairy Knight Lancelot-related card from the Deck to your Hand. Once per turn: discard one card from your Hand to banish one servant on the field... Decent as material, but this banish effect—is it like feeding someone poisoned wine?"
This card was clearly designed to synergize powerfully with Melusine. Paired with Fairy Tristan's new field, it could even generate extra cards. Jiang You nearly fell under its charm.
Though most card players only care about strength—just look at the Despia archetype's popularity despite its dark origins—this card felt unsettling to have or even look at. Jiang You decided to wait and see if a similar, less disturbing alternative might emerge. Something like the Ritsuka Fujimaru card, perhaps.
Lahmu Token
1-Star, 0 Attack Power
"Next up is this card! The Spell Card, Law of the Wild! This card targets and destroys a card on the field. If the destruction succeeds, I can choose a card on my field, gain half its original Attack Power, and gain its effect! Simultaneously, I recover half the destroyed servant's Attack Power as Life Points. As a cost, I must skip the Battle Phase this turn!"
This effect originated from Barghest's devouring ability. Presumably, the digestion process requires time, preventing the Battle Phase. Still, the effect is quite potent when a valid target is available.
"My target is Tiamat (Self-Sealed)!"
"To destroy such a powerful target... and it was even your own mother..."
Melusine's gaze toward Jiang You shifted. In her eyes, this was no different from killing one's comrades to achieve enlightenment.
Jiang You recalled that the game did indeed have such a mechanic: before sending a companion to the Graveyard, players had to grapple with their decision, undergoing a psychological struggle as if they were truly killing them. He wondered what Illya thought of Kiritsugu's frequent visits to the Graveyard.
Sensing Jiang You's conflicted expression, Tiamat said understandingly, "Don't hesitate. Remember, as your Mother, I have no concept of death. When a child strays from the path, it's your duty to correct them. I deeply admire your empathy, child. So, make full use of my effects."
Though Tiamat seemed to have misunderstood, the outcome was favorable, so Jiang You didn't dwell on it.
"The Lahmu Token gains the same effect as Tiamat (Self-Sealed). When Tiamat (Self-Sealed) leaves the field, Special Summon one Tiamat from your Deck, hand, or Graveyard!"
Tiamat's Attack Power: 5000
Freed from her seal, Tiamat rose from the Black Mud, her colossal form and suffocating magical power bearing down on Melusine without restraint.
The overwhelming pressure forced Melusine to swallow hard. "So... she wasn't even at full strength before!"
"5000 Attack Power... but it's not insurmountable."
Still unaware of Tiamat's true effects, Melusine glanced at her Deck, sensing a glimmer of hope. "Lady Aurora, allow me to give this my all!"
"Finally, I'll set one card face-down in my Backrow and end my turn!"
Jiang You had no intention of explaining Tiamat's effects to Melusine. Let her struggle a bit, then sink into helpless despair.
"Your turn!"
"My turn! Draw!"