Watching Hu Tao puff out her chest with unshakable confidence, one might think this Duel was no different to her than an ordinary exorcism.
As long as she defeated her opponent, that was enough!
At the same time—
Luya was just as excited. Back on Blue Star, he had only ever played offline Duels with customers or fellow enthusiasts at his grandfather's shop. He often fantasized about when the technology to summon monsters from Yu-Gi-Oh! would finally exist in reality.
His grandfather had once listened to his daydreams and said:
"Ah… I've spent most of my life dreaming the same, and it never came true."
"I don't know if I'll ever live to see it."
If such a device were ever created, then—
On Blue Star, countless players would summon their Maid Dragons, Sky Strikers, Marincess, Tearlaments, and so on every day.
Even without Dueling, just summoning them to admire would bring joy.
Anyhow, now…
Luya hadn't expected reality to turn out so magical. His dream had suddenly come true.
Now he could summon monsters, activate Spells and Traps, defeat opponents, forge bonds through Duels, and truly experience the joy of Dueling—
Just like when he watched Yu-Gi-Oh! on TV as a child.
His heart trembled with excitement.
Even though against Hu Tao, a beginner, victory was all but assured, he still had to take this seriously…
If he lost to a novice like her, how could he continue promoting Yu-Gi-Oh! in Teyvat?
More than winning, the purpose of this Duel was to spread the basics of Yu-Gi-Oh!—to let more people discover the fun of Dueling.
That wasn't just the task given by his system—it was also what Luya himself wanted to do.
Even without the system, he'd gladly bring the joy of Yu-Gi-Oh! to Teyvat.
He touched the Duel Device, savoring its texture.
Just imagining Yu-Gi-Oh! being fully popularized in Teyvat—and then being able to travel freely between Blue Star and Teyvat…
Luya couldn't contain his joy.
A surge of power rose within him.
Like Kaiba himself, once he stepped onto the stage, even his voice grew louder and more impassioned.
He shouted at Hu Tao, brimming with fervor:
"Master Hu, let our Duel begin!!!"
"Challenge me with all your might!"
"Duel!!!"
Hearing Luya shout strange words she didn't quite understand,
Hu Tao tried to mimic him:
"Dee-yoo-doo… Ah, what is that?!"
Seeing her flustered, Zhongli looked on with fatherly gentleness.
Perhaps swept up in the excitement of the Duel, even the normally calm Zhongli suddenly raised his voice, calling out:
"Hall Master, it's DUEL!!!"
"DUEL!!! Ah!!"
His pronunciation was perfect, even more precise than Luya's.
The citizens of Liyue followed suit,
some even striking dramatic poses with outstretched arms or pointing skyward to look cool…
One "DUEL!!!" after another echoed through Luya's shop.
At last, Hu Tao managed to learn the opening chant.
"Dule!"
She slapped both hands onto the Duel Table, shouting toward Luya with all her might.
Though her voice still wasn't quite right, it sounded adorable.
Zhongli shook his head, "She's lacking in presence. Gains and losses, cause and effect—alas… It seems the Hall Master will struggle to defeat the shopkeeper."
"So… to secure victory, I must take the field myself."
While Zhongli was still analyzing their strengths, Luya addressed him:
"Mr. Zhongli, please toss a coin."
"If it lands heads up, I'll take the first turn."
"Tails, and the first turn goes to Master Hu."
Having read the Rulebook, Zhongli understood immediately.
He paused briefly.
"…I don't seem to have a coin."
Just then, a helpful citizen of Liyue handed him one. It wasn't Mora, but some kind of commemorative coin with unusual markings.
Zhongli flipped it high into the air, spinning dozens of times, before catching it neatly.
"The coin shows tails. Master Hu will take the first turn."
He displayed the result to the crowd, then returned the coin.
Hu Tao, hearing she would go first, asked:
"So then…"
"What do I do now?!"
"How do I 'first turn' attack?"
Before Luya could explain,
Zhongli—already grasping the rules—offered guidance:
"First, you must draw five cards from your Deck."
"That will be your opening hand."
Hu Tao did as he said, drawing five cards.
Once she finished, Luya also drew five from his own Deck. Hu Tao looked at her opening hand and burst out laughing.
"Ahaha!"
"As expected of this Hall Master!"
"I drew my favorite card right away!!!"
In her hand were [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor], two [King of the Skull Servants], and two other monsters.
She had already planned the combo of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and King of the Skull Servants—
Sending Skull Servants from her Deck to the Graveyard to boost her King's Attack.
Just imagining it thrilled her.
The other two cards were monsters she had pulled from boosters. Not knowing much about them, she had added them based only on their ATK and DEF.
[Mystical Elf] Level 4│LIGHT│Spellcaster│800 ATK / 2000 DEF
[Summoned Skull] Level 6│DARK│Fiend│2500 ATK / 1200 DEF
Seeing [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor] in her hand, Hu Tao didn't hesitate.
"I activate a Field Spell!"
"Guardian of the border between life and death, correcting mortals' view of spirits, the final stroke of the human scroll!"
"Appear!!!"
"Blade of Liyue's spirit realm—Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!!!"
...
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