With Hu Tao ending her turn, Xingqiu's turn began. Whether Luya and Hu Tao still had a chance to hold on until Luya could summon Slifer the Sky Dragon...
It all depended on how Xingqiu played next.
Xingqiu was both excited and under pressure.
He placed his right hand on top of his Deck and took a deep breath.
"My turn, draw!!!"
Though his voice was full of vigor, no special effect appeared—he hadn't drawn the card he hoped for.
It seemed his Life Points were still too high, the pressure not enough. Xingqiu lowered his head to look at the card he drew...
[Dark Blade] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1800 ATK / 1500 DEF
It was a Monster Card, a warrior clad in pitch-black armor holding a longsword, a sharp blade in his hand, endless darkness behind him.
The reason Xingqiu included this card in his Deck was its solid 1800 Attack.
For a Level 4 monster, 1800 ATK was no small number.
Xingqiu sighed:
"Too bad... this card is useless right now."
"Still, it doesn't matter..."
Besides this [Dark Blade], Xingqiu also had [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6] in hand.
That card was the true key to victory!
"I Tribute [Tricky Token]!"
"Normal Summon [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6]!"
As Xingqiu slapped down [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6] into his Monster Zone, [Tricky Token] instantly vanished...
A massive whirlpool of water appeared on the Field. From the vortex emerged a blue-haired youth, standing firm in its center, as steady as a mountain. He gripped the Sword of Torrents, his blue-and-white armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
With sharp brows and starry eyes, he stood tall like an immovable peak, his every move radiating the air of a martial arts master. His sword was razor-sharp—fluid and penetrating as water itself.
[Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6] Level 6│WATER│Warrior│2400 ATK / 1300 DEF
╵When attacking a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.
╵When a Defense Position monster is destroyed by this card, send [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6] to the Graveyard; Special Summon [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV9] from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard in Attack or Defense Position.
After summoning Cloudlance Sword Saint, Xingqiu immediately entered his Battle Phase!
"[Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6], attack [Lost Ghostling]!"
Xingqiu's heart surged with excitement!
Because Cloudlance Sword Saint had the effect to deal piercing battle damage...
That meant—
As long as the 2400 ATK Cloudlance Sword Saint struck down the 200 DEF Lost Ghostling, Xingqiu and Chongyun's team would claim victory!
The Sword Saint responded at once, leaping lightly into the air, water rising beneath his feet. A surge of water carried him upward, and as he fell, he thrust down with his sword of torrents, aiming straight at [Lost Ghostling].
The Lost Ghostling could not resist, shattered instantly into fragments of soul.
Hu Tao had just been glad that [Lost Ghostling] was in Defense Position and would not inflict damage when Xingqiu smirked and said:
"Activate [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6]'s effect!"
"When attacking a Defense Position monster..."
"Piercing battle damage is dealt for the difference between ATK and DEF!"
Hearing Xingqiu explain the effect, the onlookers couldn't help but worry for Luya and Hu Tao.
"It's over!"
"That Sword Saint can even damage through Defense..."
"Hu Tao's [Lost Ghostling] only has 200 DEF."
"Looks like..."
"This Duel is about to end."
At that moment, Hu Tao pointed at the card she had Set last turn, [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly], and said to Luya:
"Use that one!!!"
"This is the Hall Master's final ripple of hope!" Hearing Hu Tao's passionate words, Luya nodded solemnly.
Hu Tao's [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly] (Quick-Play Spell)
Its effect not only blocked one instance of damage, but also allowed drawing two cards.
Those two extra cards could fuel Slifer the Sky Dragon's Attack on the next turn!
Slifer's Attack was equal to hand size ×1000!
In other words, the more cards in hand, the higher Slifer's Attack!
With those two extra draws, Slifer's ATK would be boosted by 2000!
And Xingqiu and Chongyun still had 3200 Life Points.
Those two cards could very well be the key to Luya and Hu Tao's comeback.
"I have felt the Hall Master's resolve!"
"No matter what, I won't let her down in this Duel!"
With that...
Luya flipped Hu Tao's face-down Quick-Play Spell [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly].
"I activate Quick-Play Spell!"
"[Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly]!"
Seeing Luya reveal the Set card, the guests who had been worried for Luya and Hu Tao let out a brief sigh of relief...
"So it's that card!"
"With this, the outcome is no longer certain..."
"Last time, Hall Master Hu Tao used [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly] to turn the Duel against Xiangling!"
The spectators watching the Tag Duel of Luya, Hu Tao, Xingqiu, and Chongyun grew loud.
The noise even drew the attention of Ganyu, Keqing, and Yanfei, who were resting nearby. Since no more participants had signed up for the Duel Tournament at the moment, the three were taking a short break.
Keqing, seeing Hu Tao Duel together with Luya, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy—yet noticing their Life Points had fallen to just 200, she also grew concerned, watching intently.
For Ganyu and Yanfei, it was their first time seeing Duel Monsters. Although they didn't understand what it truly was, seeing the guests' joy and smiles all around, they felt Duel Monsters seemed... quite wonderful.
The two Adepti, so long-lived yet never having seen such a thing, were about to ask Keqing. However, seeing how focused she was on Luya's Duel, they decided not to disturb her.
As Luya activated [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly], phantasmal butterflies instantly enveloped him and Hu Tao.
Xingqiu's heart sank... at this moment, Chongyun finally stirred after a while of idling.
"Activate Trap [Dark Bribe]!"
"Negate the activation of one Spell/Trap, and your opponent draws one card!"
As [Dark Bribe] resolved, the butterflies surrounding Luya and Hu Tao suddenly vanished...
"Oh no!"
"If [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly] is negated, Hu Tao and the shopkeeper are really finished..."
With Chongyun's [Dark Bribe] activated, the situation, which had just stabilized, turned dire again...
Yet the tension had barely lasted before Hu Tao acted, flipping her own Set card.
"Activate Trap! [Solemn Judgment]!"
The old priest, flanked by two golden-haired angels, arrived... claiming half of Luya and Hu Tao's Life Points.
But, with only 200 Life Points left, paying just 100 was enough to call upon the gods' aid—quite a bargain.
The priest pointed at Chongyun's [Dark Bribe], negating it outright.
With Hu Tao's [Solemn Judgment] assisting, Luya successfully resolved [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly].
Their Life Points dropped from 100 to 1.
And they drew two cards!
[Tropical Depression] (Spell Card)
[Canned Knowledge] (Equip Spell)
Their hand size reached six!!!
Next turn, after one normal draw and two more from Pot of Greed, Slifer the Sky Dragon's Attack would undoubtedly be enormous!
With Hu Tao and Luya successfully weathering this wave, Keqing and the other guests who supported them let out a sigh of relief.
Xingqiu exhaled: "What a pity..."
"[Conqueror of Demons – Xiao], attack the face-down Defense Position monster!"
At Xingqiu's command, Xiao hurled a spear... the Set card flipped up—
[Flying Kamakiri #1] DEF: 900
Xiao's spear pierced into it, shattering the Flying Kamakiri instantly into dust.
Luya smiled...
Finally, the moment had come.
"Activate Flying Kamakiri #1's effect!"
"When destroyed on the Field and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon one WIND monster with 1500 or less ATK from the Deck!"
"I Special Summon [Kuusei Fuchin – Scaramouche]!"
Now, the tribute for Slifer the Sky Dragon was ready. The next turn would be the showdown.
...
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