Why bother with the Holy Grail War? Let's play cards!

"Sakura, tell me, does Caster have some kind of mind-controlling Noble Phantasm?" She could understand the other Servants; Sakura only fooled around with Caster because she had feelings for him, and Bazett did it because of the Clock Tower's orders. But Archer (Red Archer) seemed completely unrelated to Caster. "Why is he fooling around with him too?"

“If he were just fooling around like this, I certainly wouldn’t have helped him.” Archer’s expression was serious; he was being earnest. “But his Noble Phantasm has the power to change the entire world.”

"Listening to the villain's speech..." Rin Tohsaka remarked.

"Magic and weapons alike are both efficiently taking human lives. But his Noble Phantasm is different. Once it takes effect, poison, interception, and weapons of mass destruction will lose their value, and human conflicts will all be resolved through duels." Archer saw the possibility of his long-cherished wish coming true. "To give an example: although Caster didn't say it, everyone knows that the one who wins the championship is essentially the one who obtains the Holy Grail. Just like the current Holy Grail War, in order to increase efficiency, the war will soon evolve into a large-scale dueling competition or send out the strongest duelists to determine the winner."

"It's still for world peace, right? You've never given up on being a partner of justice!" Rin Tohsaka thought to herself, "You really are Shirou Emiya, always thinking about becoming a partner of justice."

"I've simply learned that force cannot resolve conflicts. The guy named Shirou Emiya has embarked on the wrong path. Hatred and conflicts of interest can never be severed; no matter which side wins, the war will continue." Archer (Red A) also refrained from targeting Shirou Emiya because the world has changed. Once his objective is achieved, Shirou Emiya will no longer be able to walk down a blood-soaked path. "As long as the Holy Grail issue is resolved, and Caster's Noble Phantasm is used to capture all the humans on this planet, all of this will stop!"

"Is it really okay to involve all of humanity in a Holy Grail War..." Rin Tohsaka was only thinking about revitalizing the Tohsaka family; such grand ambitions seemed too unrealistic to her. Why was she thinking about saving the world when it was just a Holy Grail War?

"The Holy Grail War really will involve all of humanity." Matou Sakura had witnessed the power of the Beasts in the timeline ten years ago; even an incomplete individual possessed the power to devour an entire city for a short time. "Caster has indeed done something similar; we'll discuss that later. Now, let's finish our duel and enter the battle phase!"

"First, [Stheno], attack [Emiya]!"

"Even though her attack power is lower?" Rin Tohsaka didn't believe that Sakura would commit suicide for no reason.

Chapter 126 Unlimited Blade Works naturally has more equipment cards than the King of Heroes.

If Steno's attack power of 1300 directly attacks Emiya's attack power of 2500, Sakura Matou's already low health will become precarious.

Is it an effect that destroys the target after an attack?

Toosaka Rin looked at Steno rushing towards her, but instead of fighting with Red A, she jumped into the magic trap area and smiled charmingly.

"【Stheno】's effect: After battle, equip it to the target of the battle as a Continuous Spell Card. As long as this card is face-up on the field, gain control of the equipped Servant! Succumb to the 'Smile of the Goddess'!"

Control of Red A came to Sakura Matou's field.

"Is it this effect again?" Rin Tohsaka really didn't expect that a goddess like Stheno, who looked like a young girl, would have an effect similar to a Crest Bug. Originally, she could easily withstand Matou Sakura's attacks with Red A's 2500 attack power, but now it had become an obstacle for her. If it weren't for the targeting effect, she could have easily blocked it.

"Of course, Servants controlled in this way cannot attack directly in the same turn. So I activate [Emiya]'s effect, release [Durandal] to destroy [Tohsaka Tokiomi]! Fantasy Collapse!" Matou Sakura also has Medusa and Euryale on the field, totaling 3800 attack points. As long as she destroys Tohsaka Tokiomi, she can win directly.

Tosaka Tokitoki was sent directly into the graveyard by Durandal, who was shot by Emiya as an arrow. Next, it was a direct attack.

"Sister, can you survive this round? [Medusa] launches a direct attack on you!"

"Of course! I activate the face-up card [Sevenfold Rings of Blazing Sky]. This card can be activated by discarding a card when the enemy attacks. After activation, the servants on the field cannot be destroyed by battle. Of course, this effect is useless. The effect I need is to not take battle damage this turn!"

"Not only that, the card I sent to the graveyard is [Emiya Kiritsugu]! When this card is sent to the graveyard by an effect, you can search your deck for one [Origin Bullet]!" It has to be said that Emiya Kiritsugu is indeed a high-quality Cost.

"I cover two cards and end my turn."

"My turn, draw! I activate [Holding Grace] again, banish 10 cards face down, and then draw two more cards from my deck!" When Rin Tohsaka drew that card, Archer felt a resonance in his magic circuits, something unique to him.

"Looks like you've drawn a good card, Rin," Archer remarked. Heroic Spirits can sense an unseen connection to the special cards they possess, and he already knew what card Rin Tohsaka held.

"So, are you going to explain the effect of this card to Sakura to target me?" Rin Tohsaka's trust in Archer had plummeted to rock bottom, and even Shirou Emiya himself was implicated.

"Of course not. You are the Master I recognize."

"I'm just saying this in a nice way. I hate people like you who are so fickle," said Rin Tōsaka, pouting. "I activate [Gallows, Crowned the Chief Criminal], sending a [Emiya Shirou] from my deck to the graveyard and adding another [Emiya] to my hand."

"First, I usually summon [Emiya (Assassin)]!"

A smoke bomb rolled out from nowhere, and within the haze, a Heroic Spirit, tightly wrapped in a red cloak, slowly emerged. He surveyed his surroundings, only glancing at Red A twice before assuming a combat stance without speaking. His demeanor was businesslike.

【Emiya (Assassin)】 Assassin 4-star, 1800 attack power (hereinafter referred to as the Servant Kiritsugu)

"During the turn this card is successfully summoned, your opponent cannot activate Trap Cards. You cannot target this card with attacks while you have other Servants on the field. Most importantly—once per turn! At the cost of halving your attack power until the end of the turn, destroy a card on your opponent's backfield. Pluck the flower when it blooms."

Kiritsugu, the assassin's heroic spirit, fired a shot at Matou Sakura's covered card, attempting to destroy it.

"My sister's luck isn't great. Since it's this card, let's just use it!" Matou Sakura activated the effect, revealing the face-down card. "[Petrifying Eyes]! Although it doesn't work directly on Servants below three stars, it can seal their attack for one turn!"

[Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu] Attack Power 1800 → 900

"There's no such thing as good or bad luck, this is the effect I want! Next, the effect of [Origin Bullet]! Negate and destroy the Servant [Emiya] on your field!" A special bullet tube made from Emiya Kiritsugu's ribs pierced Red A's forehead.

"Because you have control when [Emiya] is destroyed, it won't be affected by the effect of [Gorgon's Temple], and will be sent directly to the Graveyard." Rin Tohsaka deliberately killed Emiya not just for revenge, "Then [Emiya]'s effect, once per turn, if it is sent from the field to the Graveyard, Special 1 [Emiya Shirou] from your hand or Graveyard! And because of its effect, add 1 Equip Card to your hand."

[Emiya Shirou] Attack Power 1600

"Tohsaka-san, are you in a battle?" Emiya Shirou, having experience with being summoned, quickly assumed a fighting stance. When he saw his opponent, a look of confusion crossed his face. "Sakura? What happened?"

“These things are too complicated to explain! We'll talk about them when we get back!” Rin Tohsaka held up the card in her hand, which seemed to distort the surrounding space. “Emiya-kun, are you ready?”

"What's ready?" Emiya Shirou sensed a similar aura from that card, and his magical circuits were throbbing with excitement.

"Of course, it's to embrace my glorious future, to become the great magician who can materialize the world of his own mind—Mr. Emiya Shirou!" Rin Tohsaka raised the card that had always been rejected by the world. "I activate the Field Spell Card [Unlimited Blade Works]!"

A crimson sky, spinning gears, and an endless stream of swords. This was the inherent barrier of the Heroic Spirit Emiya, or rather, Emiya Shirou.

"This card can only be activated if there is [Emiya] or [Emiya Shirou] on the field. This card's activation cannot be negated! When this card is activated, you can equip up to four Equip Spell Cards from your Deck or Graveyard to the corresponding Servant!"

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 1600 → 3600

"Next, I will equip him with the equipment card that was added to his hand due to the effect of [Emiya Shirou]."

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 3600 → 4100

This is a value higher than the basic attack power of any known servant. Shirou Emiya makes a grand appearance!

Chapter 127 Forgive me, Sakura, this is the last time.

"With such high attack power, Medusa, I'm sure he'll ravage me to death! You have to protect me!" Euryale hid behind Medusa, looking terrified.

"I won't trample on you!" Shirou Emiya, not wanting his reputation to be damaged, immediately corrected himself, "I'll finish quickly."

"Another effect of [Unlimited Blade Works] is that whenever this card is face-up, [Emiya Shirou] gains the same effect as Archer, releasing an Equipment Card to destroy cards."

"Therefore, first, I will unleash the [Pseudo-Spiral Sword] to destroy [Medusa]!"

Shirou Emiya made the same move as Red A, and the spiral sword was shot out like an arrow, directly sending Medusa into the cemetery.

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 4100 → 3600

Matou LP2500→2000

"Then our target is [Eurielle]! Emiya-san, I've always felt that you and Gilgamesh have a lot in common. Your effects are somewhat similar."

“I think he’ll get angry, given his personality. I don’t want to get riddled with bullets.” Shirou Emiya disagreed with Rin Tohsaka’s opinion. He felt that it would be good enough if he and Gilgamesh didn’t fight.

This time, the [Pseudo-Spiral Sword] is being unleashed again. Unlike Gate of Babylon, [Unlimited Blade Works] doesn't require different equipment cards. By continuously unleashing the Spiral Sword, it can achieve an effect similar to Gilgamesh's.

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 3600 → 3100

Matou Sakura LP 2000 → 1500

"No matter what the effect of [Gorgon's Temple] is, I won't give you a chance! Shirou Emiya, destroy [Stheno] in the back row too!" Rin Tohsaka didn't want to mess things up here.

"How cruel. I couldn't escape your clutches even after hiding here. Medusa's little master, I'll be going now." Even with the spiral sword piercing through her, Stheno maintained her smile.

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 3100 → 2600

Matou Sakura LP 1500 → 1000

"The final target is that face-down card!" Rin Tohsaka was determined to secure victory; this time, she wouldn't let her luck slip. Once she destroyed the entire backcourt, Sakura wouldn't have any way to counter it.

The liberated Gan Jiang Moye blew the last card in Matou Sakura's backfield into pieces.

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 2600 → 2100

"I'm sorry, sister, this card is a trap card called [Temple of Blood]. Its original effect was to destroy one card on your field and then destroy one card on your opponent's field. However, this effect was sealed due to the effect of [Kiritsugu]. What I want to activate is the second effect—when this card is destroyed by an effect and sent to the Graveyard, place up to two Servants from the Graveyard as Continuous Spell Cards in the back row."

Medusa and Yurielle appeared again behind Sakura Matou.

Now Shirou Emiya only has one Noble Phantasm left, and his Noble Phantasm reserves are running low. "Then, I'll release my last equipment card and destroy [Eureka]!"

"No matter how you look at it, Medusa is the bigger threat!" Euryale glared angrily at Rin Tohsaka.

[Emiya Shirou] Attack power 2100 → 1600

"Let's get into the battle phase. If we can successfully attack, 1600 attack power will be enough. But I think you must have a way to deal with it, Sakura. [Emiya Shirou] launch a direct attack on Sakura!"

"Sakura, I'm sorry!" Although Shirou Emiya didn't know why he had to fight Matou Sakura, he had to obey Rin Tohsaka's duel orders under the duel rules. He projected his black and white twin swords and slashed at Matou Sakura.

"Shirou-senpai, I won't make things difficult for you. The effect of [Gorgon's Temple] is to release one Continuous Spell Card in the back row and negate one attack!" Medusa in the back row blocked this fatal blow for Matou Sakura.

"Well done, Sakura! I'll end my turn then."

[Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu] Attack Power 900 → 1800

"My turn, draw!" Matou Sakura looked at the card in her hand, slightly hesitant. It was a form Medusa particularly disliked, just as she disliked the Black Grail form in Jiang You's hand. Winning wasn't a must right now.

"Sakura, don't worry about me." Medusa had been waiting nearby, but hadn't offered her opinion. She already knew what kind of card it was from Matou Sakura's expression. "Use it as you see fit."

Sakura Matou nodded gratefully. "I activate the Spell Card [Gorgon Fusion]! Banish the three [Gorgon] Servants on the field and in the Graveyard, and Special Summon [Gorgon]!"

The earth was roaring, and a huge snake body as big as a mountain broke through the ground, and the queen of monsters came to the world.

[Gorgon] Attack Power: Avenger 9-star 3500

A huge servant beyond everyone's cognition appeared in front of everyone. The audience was amazed at the size of Gorgon and its extremely high attack power.

"Too many humans, swarming like insects... Disgusting!" Gorgon tried to move his snake tail to sweep away the surrounding humans, but the rules of the duel prevented him from turning his thoughts into action. "Something's not right here. There's even a Noble Phantasm like this?"

"Isn't that Medusa?" Matou Sakura realized that Medusa was still beside her. If it were in another form, it would have pulled the main body over as well.

"That's a bit strange, but it's perfectly normal for Caster's Noble Phantasm to bring in Servants from other timelines. [Gorgon]'s effect: When successfully summoned, select up to three Servants on the opponent's field, treat them as Continuous Spell Cards, and place them face-up in your Spell & Trap Zone! Also, for each Continuous Spell Card in your back row, Gorgon's ATK increases by 500! Forced Seal: Pandemonium!"

"How dare you order me around... What?" Gorgon found his body moving according to Matou Sakura's commands.

"Don't even think about it!" Rin Tohsaka knew that if she succeeded in letting her activate her spell, her defeat was inevitable. "The effect of [Emerald Spell] in the graveyard: banish this card and another [Emerald Spell], negating your targeting effect!"

"How could such a low-level magic be..." Gorgon's Noble Phantasm was blocked, which she couldn't accept. However, since no one knew her and her attitude was also problematic, no one paid any attention to her.

"In that case, I'll summon [Matou Sakura (Imaginary Number)] normally!"

Sakura Matou stepped out from the dark purple crack. This was a completely different form from the one in Matou Shinji's eyes.