Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

"This card—Special Summon!"

Kiskill turned to face the vortex of the graveyard, her voice becoming more solemn:

"Use that contract as a sacrifice to recast the body of the demonic iron!"

"I am returning the [Evil Twins Kiskill Trade] from my Graveyard to my Extra Deck!"

"At this price—return from the flames of the underworld!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

As the cemetery lit up, an even hotter and more violent aura suddenly erupted.

In the distorted heatwave, a tall and imposing figure appeared like a black mountain.

He wore an elaborately made long black trench coat, the hem of which fluttered in the sweltering heat, like a flag dancing in the flames of hell.

His dazzling red hair shimmered with an eerie ruby-like luster under the reflection of the lava, but what was most eye-catching was the enormous cross-shaped coffin he carried on his back—the very same [Carving Demon's Soul-Suppressing Coffin] that had just vanished.

At this moment, the coffin, a symbol of death, was no longer a sleeping vessel, but had become a heavy weapon in his hands, capable of crushing everything.

Or rather, this is his original stance as a "blacksmith"—using the resting place of the dead as a hammer to strike the souls of the living.

[The Demon-Carving Blacksmith Who Imprints Demons] [★6]

[Light/Demon/Effect] [Attack: 1800 / Defense: 2400]

"That's not all! The real forging has only just begun!"

As Kisskill looked at Lucien's wary gaze, the smile on her lips grew even more fervent.

She swung her arm violently, tearing the void in front of her apart once more, and the familiar connection circuit reappeared amidst thunder.

"Next, I will perform a connection summon again!"

"The summoning condition for this monster is—two monsters, including a Fiend-Type LIGHT monster!"

"The furnace is preheated!"

"I've set the newly entered [Engraved Demon Blacksmith] and [Evil Twin Lila] to their respective link markers!"

The two monsters instantly transformed into two intertwined torrents of energy, one red and one blue, like two giant dragons bound by chains, roaring as they charged into the circuit node.

Kiskill's voice became solemn and dignified, as if she were chanting an ancient taboo prayer:

"Using the Demon Iron Hammer as a guide, forge the final resting place for the souls of the dead!"

"Link Summon! Link-2!"

"Descend! Vessel that bears sin—[The Great Coffin of the Demon Carving]!!"

"Boom—!!"

On the ground, countless dark red cracks spread wildly, and scalding magma-like energy erupted from the ground, turning the neon-colored cyberspace into a blood-red mess.

In the sky, a massive engraving and forging magic array composed of crimson energy slowly rotated.

Accompanied by a tooth-grinding metallic scraping sound, a coffin, even more magnificent, sacred, and eerie than before, slowly descended from the center of the magic circle.

The coffin was made entirely of an unknown dark red metal, with flowing engraved runes on its surface, each rune seemingly breathing.

Surrounding the sacred coffin were countless illusory chains and enormous brass gears, which creaked and rattled in the void, as if calculating the time for the end of all things.

【The Great Coffin of the Demon Carving】

[Link-2] [Bottom Left/Bottom Right] [Light/Demonic/Link/Effect] [Attack Power: 1200]

Chapter 244 The Pact of Blood and Iron Resonates Here! The Day the Carving Demon Weeps!

As the holy coffin landed heavily, the resulting energy ripples made Lucien squint.

Kiskill did not pause for a moment, her eyes fixed on the holy coffin, and she waved her hand and shouted:

"Next, I immediately activated the effect of [Great Holy Coffin of the Carving Demon]!"

"It can only be activated during its main phase."

"Use monsters from your Graveyard as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon 1 Fiend Fusion Monster!"

"Fusion - Unlocked!"

She pointed sharply into the depths of the cemetery, where two powerful forces of souls yearning to return were surging:

"I return the [Red Tear Demon's Day of Tears] and [Evil Twins Kisgiller: Trade] that were sleeping in my graveyard to the deck for a Fusion Summon!"

"Om-"

A dark vortex instantly lit up beneath Kiskill's feet, giving rise to a suffocating and terrifying sense of oppression.

"The pact of blood and iron resonates here!"

"Forge a new blade with the tears of demonic iron!"

"Awaken amidst sorrow—Descent! [The Day the Carving Demon Weeps]!!"

The pitch-black vortex was instantly filled with dark red cracks, and with a deafening roar, a robust figure tore through the dimensional barrier and slowly stepped out of the vortex.

His appearance was almost identical to that of the [Demon-Carving Blacksmith], and he also carried heavy armor.

But unlike others, his eyes were empty and lifeless, as if his soul had lost its focus. Only endless scarlet energy surged and rushed through his body like a raging river, a power purely formed from sorrow and anger.

[The Day the Carving Demon Sheds Tears] [★6]

[Light/Demon/Fusion/Effect] [Attack: 2400 / Defense: 2400]

"Sadness is not the end, but a new beginning!"

Kiskill snapped her fingers, pointing at the newly appeared Fusion Demon God:

"I activate the entry effect of [The Day the Demon Weeps]!"

"If this card is Fusion Summoned, you can target 1 Fiend-Type LIGHT monster in your Graveyard or banished state to activate this effect."

"Add that monster to your hand or Special Summon it."

"What I want to bring back, of course, is that core craftsman!"

"I will Special Summon the [Engraved Demon Blacksmith] that was just sent down from the graveyard as a linking material!"

[On the Day the Demon Weeps] Slowly raised the arm burning with crimson lotus flames and grabbed at the void.

"Awaken! [The Demon-Carving Blacksmith Who Imprints Demons]!"

With a crisp sound of hammering, the tall figure with red hair and black clothes was reborn from the ghost fire once again and stood on the battlefield!

[The Demon-Carving Blacksmith Who Imprints Demons] [★6]

[Light/Demon/Effect] [Attack: 1800 / Defense: 2400]

As the [Engraving Demon Blacksmith] once again stood tall, the air on the battlefield seemed to be distorted by the intense heat.

Without pausing for breath, Kiskill immediately pointed to the graveyard, where slumbering resentment yearned for new possession.

"Though they became sacrifices, the resting place of the dead will forever accompany the living!"

"I activate the follow-up effect of [Carving Demon's Soul-Suppressing Coffin] in the graveyard!"

You can activate this effect by targeting 1 Fiend-Type LIGHT monster on your field other than a Link Monster.

Equip this card from your field or Graveyard as an Equip Spell Card that grants it 600 ATK!

"Become a steadfast shield of protection, or a mighty hammer to crush your enemies!"

"I'm targeting the [Engraving Demon Blacksmith] on the field—equip him!!"

"Om-!"

With a muffled hum, the pitch-black basalt coffin reappeared in the previously empty void.

It didn't fall to the ground, but instead, as if attracted by a magnetic force, it firmly snapped onto the back of the [Engraving Demon Blacksmith].

The tall, red-haired demon did not seem to be struggling with the extra weight. On the contrary, he gently stroked his fiery red hair and a smug smile appeared on his lips.

With a shake of his arms, the massive coffin snapped, and countless chains automatically wrapped around his arms, stirring up dust and sparks.

The Demon-Carving Blacksmith Who Imprints Demons

Attack Power: 1800 → 2400 / Defense Power: 2400

Looking at the fully armed demon opposite her, Kiskill's smile remained sweet, but her eyes revealed a chilling coldness.

She looked at the blonde girl on the field who had always been a headache for Lucien—[Time Stalker - Constant Motion Winder]—and spoke softly yet with an undeniable air of judgment:

"Since you've been holding back the effect, now... you'll never have another chance to activate it!"

"I will activate the effect of [Engraving Demon Blacksmith] on the field!"

"You can target 1 'Cardcaptor Spell' Equip Card on your field and 1 monster on the field. Send those cards—to the Graveyard!"

Kiskill snapped her fingers abruptly, issuing a ruthless command:

"This is a fair funeral!"

"I'm targeting my Equip Spell Card [Crypto-Spell Coffin] and your [Time Stalker - Perpetual Chainer]!"

"Drag them all—into the abyss!!"

"What?!" Lucien's expression finally changed.

On the field, the [Engraving Demon Blacksmith] slowly opened his arms and began chanting an ancient and obscure incantation.

The coffin behind him suddenly burst open, not to release the dead, but to shoot out several thick chains burning with golden flames!

"Splash—!!"

The chains, like giant, living pythons, disregarded spatial distance and instantly wrapped around the limbs and neck of the [Time Stalker - Constant Motion Chain Operator].

"No...time...is flowing backwards..."

The girl who controlled time let out a painful groan, but no matter how she turned the gears behind her, she could not break free from the shackles of the underworld.

"Go down!"

With a sharp tug from the blacksmith, the golden chains tightened abruptly.

With a piercing sound of mechanical disintegration, the figure of [Time Stalker - Constant Motion Chain Operator] was forcibly dragged into the cracked abyss, disappearing into the rolling lava along with the coffin that served as the price.