As Zhongli activated [Dimension Wall], the space before him seemed to fold in on itself.
A pale-blue nebula-like barrier appeared, with Zhongli standing calmly behind it.
[Dimension Wall] (Trap Card)
╵The battle damage from this battle is inflicted to your opponent instead.
The barrier spread wide, absorbing all of the King of the Skull Servants' bone spear assault aimed at Zhongli.
At the same time, a massive black hole opened before Hu Tao.
Seeing it, Hu Tao felt dread rise… The Lost Ghostling floating behind her looked worried, as if sensing danger.
As the barrier absorbed the attack, the black hole in front of Hu Tao pulsed violently.
It suddenly flared with blue light!
Startled, Hu Tao staggered back two steps… Then, from the vortex, the same bone spears burst forth—this time aimed at her.
She ducked and covered her head, trying to dodge...
Abruptly, then the spears curved, homing in no matter how she moved.
Tragic.
Hu Tao was riddled like a little hedgehog.
Keqing, watching nearby, tensed.
Though visually painful, in reality, Hu Tao felt nothing more than the harmless sting of Qiqi's occasional bites—no real pain.
It wasn't her first time feeling battle damage. She recovered quickly.
The bone spears faded, and the Duel Stage tallied her Life Points.
From 4000 down to 0.
A flat "buzzz—" rang out.
The duel ended, Zhongli declared the winner.
At the moment Hu Tao's final blow should have struck Zhongli, [Dimension Wall] had turned it all back onto her.
The spectators buzzed...
"What card was that?!"
"Never seen it..."
"Looks like another reflect card..."
"It makes the opponent take the battle damage instead!"
"Similar to [Magic Cylinder]—one reflects the monster's attack, the other reflects the battle damage..."
"Whoa..."
"Wha—?!"
"Mr. Zhongli is such a sly old fox!!!"
"Damn, the cider doesn't taste so good now..."
"He clearly came prepared. This deck is tailored against Hall Master Hu!"
"Hahaha~"
"I won my bet, but I'm never betting again..."
Those who had wagered felt like they'd been on a rollercoaster.
Though some swore they'd never bet again...
They surely would.
"You... you filled your deck with Dragons!"
"But it was all Traps!"
"You... you fight without honor!"
"Ah!"
"I should've used King of the Skull Servants to attack your face-down first!"
"Then attacked with Zombie Master after!"
"Even if you reflected 2300 damage, I could've finished you next turn."
Hu Tao quickly reviewed her loss, realizing she fell because she didn't know the Trap's effect.
Otherwise, she would've won!
The Lost Ghostling floated at her back, "hoo-hoo," trying to comfort her.
Zhongli looked at her self-reproach, and said gently:
"Indeed, had you played more precisely, I could not have won."
"By all general logic, your Deck is stronger. My victory today..."
"Was simply fortune's favor."
Hearing his humility, Hu Tao's frustration at her careless defeat eased.
Now, her mind was fixed on the Lost Ghostling that had manifested from Luya's card. It hadn't been summoned through a Duel Stage or Duel Disk—yet it materialized… Like a real ghost.
With that doubt, Hu Tao went to Luya.
Seeing Keqing nearby, she greeted her with a grin:
"Hehe~"
"Hardworking Lady Yuheng, you finally let yourself rest~"
"Building Liyue is important, but rest is too."
Keqing smiled and nodded.
"Hall Master Hu, that little ghost behind you—it's rather cute."
The ghostling happily nuzzled Hu Tao's cheek at the praise. Hu Tao herself felt nothing, but knew it was real.
She pointed at the [Lost Ghostling] card in Luya's hand and asked:
"Shopkeeper!"
"Sell me this card, won't you?!"
Luya nodded. He hadn't needed it anyway—it was meant for her.
"50,000 Mora, and it's yours."
Without a second thought, Hu Tao pulled a Mora note from her pocket and set it on the counter.
Luya handed her [Lost Ghostling].
[Lost Ghostling]
On the card art—
The setting sun bathed Liyue Harbor's sea in red. Hu Tao sat at the docks, holding the white ghostling in her arms, watching ships and caravans pass.
The wind brushed her hair, and she smiled.
Hu Tao gasped loudly.
"What?!"
"I—how am I on this card?!"
"Amazing!"
"Pulling Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was wild enough… But me?! I'm in the art too!"
Though just in the background, it shocked her nonetheless.
Beside her, Keqing stared at [Lost Ghostling], dazed.
"This is beyond belief..."
Xingqiu, busy with his packs, overheard and hurried over, curious.
Seeing the card art, his eyes widened.
"What... Hall Master Hu is on a card..."
"Could it be?!"
"Will I pull a card tied to me too?!"
The thought consumed him—he rushed back to tearing packs with redoubled excitement—each reveal made his face more serious.
Keqing, after witnessing Duel Monsters and now Hu Tao's two exclusive cards, could no longer resist.
"Shopkeeper, I'll take 300 packs."
"I'll fetch Mora from the Liyue Bank at once!"
...
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