Fierce Battle! Xing VS Herrscher of Erosion

"DUEL!"

Both players LP: 8000

Both players starting hand: 5

"Is the first turn mine?" Xing asked, looking at the prompt on his duel disk with slight hesitation before beginning his turn.

Speaking of which, why is my hand the same as when I dueled Kaiba in the Memory Battlefield last time? Did they not shuffle the deck?

"I'll special summon Kiana from my hand, then special summon myself, search for Valkyrie Fusion, and fusion summon Judgment Knight!

I'll activate Mei's effect from my hand, special summoning myself and the me in my graveyard, then synchro summon Blade of the Thunder Queen!

According to Mei's effect, I'll special summon myself from the graveyard again, then normal summon Bronya, search for Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C, overlay myself and Bronya, Xyz summon Otherworld Hacker! Then I'll equip Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C to Otherworld Hacker. Turn end."

Xing's hand: 1

The Knight, the Samurai, and the Hacker are gathered on the field. Fire Moth, reporting for duty!

Crimson Prison Beast let out a cold sneer. "My turn, draw."

"I'll activate the Field Spell, Yae Village, from my hand. By its effect, I add Yae Sakura - Primordial to my hand." A dilapidated village appeared on the lifeless plain, adding to the somber atmosphere.

"Shouldn't that card be mine?" Xing asked with annoyance.

"Heh, I've been with this woman for five hundred years, and I even gave her power. Why can't I use her card?" Crimson Prison Beast replied disdainfully. "Worry about yourself first! I'll activate three Continuous Spells from my hand: Budding Affection, Saintess's Love, and Miko's First Bloom!"

The card art all shows Sakura and Kallen being close. Otto would be furious if he saw this.

"Then, I'll special summon Yae Sakura - Primordial from my hand. When this card is normal summoned, I special summon a Level 4 Scarlet Sakura Token to my field and treat it as a Tuner monster!"

"A Tuner monster, you don't mean?!" Xing seemed to anticipate what was coming.

"That's right, exactly what you're thinking!" Crimson Prison Beast was pleased with Xing's expression. "I'll tune my Level 4 Scarlet Sakura Token with Yae Sakura!"

"Flames engulf the sinner, offering praise to the gods! Synchro Summon, atone, Yae Sakura - True Flame Lucky Soul!"

The dazed, fox-eared samurai drew her blood-dyed cherry blossom blade and aimed it at the white-haired boy.

"Tch, I thought it was a Crystron (the Crystrons in this world aren't banned yet), you scared me. Also, can you stop using my Sakura's model? Believe it or not, I'll sue you for infringing her portrait rights," Xing said dismissively.

Crimson Prison Beast was almost angered to death. "Don't get cocky. I'll activate Yae Sakura - Primordial's departure effect, adding Yae Sakura - Miko of the Divine Punishment from my deck to my hand, then activate True Flame Lucky Soul's arrival effect. When Synchro Summoned, I'll destroy the monster with the highest ATK on your field and inflict damage equal to that monster's ATK to you! I choose to destroy your Judgment Knight!"

A crimson blade pierced the white knight's body, and it dissolved into blue light particles.

Xing LP: 8000 → 5500 (Effect Damage 2500)

"Uwah!" The flames burned Xing's body, causing him to cry out in pain.

"It's not over yet! Battle! Yae Sakura - True Flame Lucky Soul, attack Otherworld Hacker!"

"With Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C's effect, I banish myself to negate this battle destruction!"

"But you still take the damage!"

"Waaah!"

Xing LP: 5500 → 5000

"I'll end my turn like this. Now, go ahead and draw~" Crimson Prison Beast taunted, looking at Xing, who had lost nearly half his life points on the second turn.

Crimson Prison Beast's hand: 3

"My turn, draw!" A sharp glint flashed in Crimson Prison Beast's eyes. "At this moment, I'll activate the effect of the Continuous Spell on my field. Based on the number of Yae Sakura monsters on my field, I'll inflict effect damage to you!"

"What?"

Xing LP: 5000 → 4500

"Heh, good luck. Don't you dare get defeated by me on your own turn," Crimson Prison Beast mocked.

"Don't underestimate me! Because you have Yae Sakura on your field, I'll special summon Kallen - Oath from my hand! By its effect, I'll search for Kallen - Fantasy of the Sixth Night from my deck!"

"I'll activate the effect of Valkyrie Fusion in my graveyard, banishing myself and Judgment Knight, and special summoning myself and Bronya from the graveyard!"

Xing flipped through the selection interface on his duel disk, searching for suitable cards.

"I'll add St. Freya Academy and Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C (second copy) to my hand, and activate the Field Spell, St. Freya Academy!"

St. Freya Academy, carrying Theresa's hopes, appeared on the plain, forming a stark contrast with the lifeless Yae Village.

"I'll tribute Kallen - Oath on my field to tribute summon Kallen - Fantasy of the Sixth Night from my hand. When it's tribute summoned, I can take one card from your hand! Phantom Thief incoming!"

"You bastard!" Crimson Prison Beast glared hatefully at the card flying towards Xing.

"Yae Sakura - Primordial? So there's more than one? I'll overlay myself and Bronya again to Xyz summon Otherworld Hacker (second copy). By Bronya's effect, I'll destroy Budding Affection! Then I'll equip Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C to Otherworld Hacker!"

"Battle! I'll activate Otherworld Hacker's effect, detach one Xyz Material, and its ATK will double! Otherworld Hacker, attack True Flame Lucky Soul!"

The hacker on a motorcycle crushed the fox-eared samurai.

Crimson Prison Beast LP: 8000 → 8000

"Why didn't I take battle damage?" Xing was very confused.

Crimson Prison Beast laughed loudly. "Idiot, as long as Yae Village is on the field, all damage I take is inflicted to you! Take your own attack! Then I'll activate True Flame Lucky Soul's departure effect, special summoning Yae Sakura - Primordial from my graveyard."

Xing was extremely frustrated. If he could have confirmed the opponent's card effects, he would have destroyed that one earlier. "Unfortunately, as long as St. Freya Academy is on my field, I also take no damage. I'll attack Yae Sakura - Primordial with Otherworld Hacker, then end my turn."

Xing's hand: 2

"My turn, draw!" Hiyokomaru snarled, "I activate the Normal Spell, First Encounter of Scarlet and White, add Yae Sakura - Primordial (3rd copy) to my hand, then Normal Summon it, activate its effect!"

"I tune my 4-star Scarlet Token and 4-star Yae Sakura - Primordial, Synchro Summon, Yae Sakura - Nightshade Heavy Mist! Activate its effect, when Synchro Summoned successfully, destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on both sides!"

The desolate Yae Village and the vibrant St. Freya Academy vanished simultaneously. Hiyokomaru sneered, "Although my field disappeared too, now there's nothing protecting you from damage! I activate the Spell Card, Monster Reborn!"

Wait, are there actual cards in this duel?

"Yae Sakura - Primordial is revived, Tribute it, Tribute Summon Yae Sakura - Miko of the Divine Punishment!" Hiyokomaru looked at Xing with malice, "When this card is Tribute Summoned, inflict damage to you equal to the number of Valkyrie monsters on both fields x 500. By the way, these two on my field count as Valkyries too~"

Xing's Field: Blade of the Thunder Queen, Otherworld Hacker x2, Kallen - Fantasy of the Sixth Night

Hiyokomaru's Field: Yae Sakura - Nightshade Heavy Mist, Yae Sakura - Miko of the Divine Punishment

Total 6 monsters, so damage is 500 x 6 = 3000

Xing LP: 4500 → 1500

"Ahhhh!" The Miko of the Divine Punishment's blade mercilessly sliced through him, the soul-piercing pain causing him to cry out.

"Yes, yes, just like that! Let me hear more of your screams, let you know the price of defying a god!" Hiyokomaru's face flushed with excitement, "Attack, Miko of the Divine Punishment, attack Otherworld Hacker!"

A sword shadow enveloped in cherry blossoms drowned the hacker's figure.

Xing LP: 1500 → 100

"Ugh!" Xing grunted.

"End turn, hehe, this is a battle of wills. Once your LP hits zero, it means you've completely lost to me. Come, draw your last card!"

The arrogant entity even forgot to use Yae Sakura - Primordial's field-clearing effect.

Hiyokomaru Hand: 1

"My turn, draw!" Xing glanced at the card he drew, "What's this? In that case, I'll set one card and end my turn."

Xing Hand: 2

If I can draw that card next turn, I still have a chance to turn this around.

"Haha, as expected, you're out of options. My turn, draw!" Seeing the card he drew, Hiyokomaru burst into unrestrained laughter, "Before you lose this duel, I'll mercifully tell you why you're being so thoroughly suppressed by me. Besides my own strength, there's another important reason: I know you inside and out!"

Xing was confused, "What do you mean?"

Hiyokomaru waved its hand, saying lazily, "Even though I was sealed inside you before, I could clearly see your every move. In other words, I know you better than you know yourself. So, when you were dueling that guy named Kaiba in the Memory Battlefield, I had already figured out some of your card effects and developed my deck specifically to counter them. You, you can never win against me!"

"What?!" Xing exclaimed in shock. No wonder it prioritized destroying the Judgment Knight, which couldn't grant him resistance, and dealt with the attack-boosting Otherworld Hacker first. So the opponent knew the effects all along. Damn! Is this the importance of intelligence warfare?

Hiyokomaru was quite pleased with Xing's reaction and continued to laugh, "Moreover, just now, I drew the card that will send you into the abyss. From my hand, I activate the Ritual Spell - Sakura Sacrifice!"

"Tribute Nightshade Heavy Mist on the field, Ritual Summon Far East Fox Spirit - Hiyokomaru from my hand!"

A colossal fox spirit, entirely crimson, descended.

"Attack! Miko of the Divine Punishment, attack Blade of the Thunder Queen!!"

The Cherry Blossom Blizzard's blade mercilessly pierced the samurai's body.

Xing LP: 1500 → 1000

"Far East Fox Spirit - Hiyokomaru, attack Kallen - Fantasy of the Sixth Night! My ATK becomes double the opponent's monster's ATK during battle! This is the end!"

ATK: 0 → 5000

"I activate the Trap Card, Saintess's Protection! I reduce my LP to 100, and until the end of the next turn, I take no battle or effect damage!"

The fox spirit's flames engulfed the phantom thief's delicate form.

Xing LP: 1000 → 100

Hiyokomaru ended its turn with annoyance, "Tch, a last-ditch effort. What can you possibly do by surviving one more turn? I'll tell you my effects directly: I cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, nor can I be targeted by card effects. During your Battle Phase, you must declare an attack on me, otherwise, you will take damage equal to the total ATK of your monsters during the End Phase. And no matter what monster I battle, my ATK will be double yours!"

Hiyokomaru Hand: 0

Hiyokomaru declared triumphantly, "You can't do anything anymore!"

Xing placed his hand on his deck, hesitating to draw. If he could draw that card, he could turn the tables. If not... Xing had never felt his right hand so heavy.

"Hahaha! Why haven't you drawn yet? Are you scared, Xing Kaslana?!" Hiyokomaru continued to mock him, "Only one Otherworld Hacker remains on the field, you have only one meaningless card in your hand and a useless Yae Sakura, and your LP is a mere 100, like a candle in the wind. Your defeat is already sealed!"

Can't win? Xing's red pupils gradually dimmed.

"Xing, are you going to give up?" Kallen, dressed in her purple dress, appeared beside him.

"Go, Xing!" Yae Sakura cheered him on.

"Hey, you still have to be my teammate, don't you dare lose, you hear me!" Kiana appeared, brandishing her claws aggressively.

"Xing, keep going! Don't lose!" Mei looked at him tenderly.

"Xing, the journey of the genius player X will never stop here, right? You'll only lose to Bronya, not to anyone else," Bronya said expressionlessly, yet with great charm.

(PS: Himeko and Theresa's bond isn't strong enough yet, so they haven't appeared.)

"Everyone..." Xing stared blankly at the phantoms of his companions. These were the connections he had forged in this world, shallow or deep, but now they manifested as inner visions, representing his subconscious desire to win.

"Big Brother!" Hearing that voice, Xing's body trembled, and tears welled up in his red pupils, "Little Sister!"

The person he thought he'd never see again walked up to him and hugged him tightly. "Brother, if we fall here, we'll never see each other again. So, for our future reunion, we absolutely cannot stop here!"

Encouraged by everyone surrounding him, Xing slowly closed his eyes, feeling the stirring in his heart. When he opened them again, he was alone, but his red pupils were now filled with confidence.

"What's going on? How is his mental state even better than before? What just happened?" Crimson Prison Beast looked at the radiant Xing in disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation.

Of course, it couldn't understand the immense impact of the power originating from human emotion, known as "bonds."

"You said it just now, right? This is a battle of spirits!" Xing said loudly. "In that case, I definitely won't lose! Because I am far stronger than you!"

Crimson Prison Beast was enraged. "You're still talking big even now?! Come and try to defeat me! I am invincible!"

Specks of golden light gathered on the topmost card in the deck. Xing placed his finger on the card, a confident smile on his face. "A true duelist makes everything inevitable! I can even create my draws! Shining Draw!"

The card traced a beautiful arc in the air, catching his eye.

"The card I drew is Xing Kaslana!"

Crimson Prison Beast paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "I thought it was some powerful card, and it's just this? What's the use of drawing yourself now?"

"Don't rush, I'll Normal Summon myself, and by its effect, add one Ritual Monster with 'Valkyrie' in its name from my deck to my hand, then activate the Ritual Spell, Advent of the Saintess, from my hand. When my Life Points are 1000 or less, I will tribute one Kaslana monster on the field, ignore the level difference, and Ritual Summon one Ritual Monster from my hand!"

Blinding white light illuminated the plain.

"Great and sorrowful Saintess, crossing five hundred years of time, please descend upon this world once more and guide us with your magnificent power! Ritual Summon! Appear, Level 12, Schicksal Saintess Kallen Kaslana God's Blessing Anthem!"

The pure white Saintess descended.

"Your final trump card is Kallen? So what? I'm invincible!" A hint of fear flashed in Crimson Prison Beast's eyes, but it remained composed.

"God's Blessing Anthem's ATK and DEF are determined by the total number of Valkyrie monsters on both players' fields, in their graveyards, and in their banished zones!"

ATK: 0 → 32800

DEF: 0 → 28500

(Why did I print such a complicated effect? I almost couldn't calculate it myself.)

"Its ATK is thirty thousand?! But so what? Don't forget, my ATK is always double yours!" Crimson Prison Beast was startled at first, then dismissive.

"On the turn God's Blessing Anthem is Ritual Summoned, all cards on the field except for her are negated!"

"Idiot, I won't be targeted by effects!" The comment from the armchair duelist Crimson Prison Beast was amusing.

"You're the idiot, this effect does not target!" Xing, a professional duelist, declared you were trash.

"Let's battle, God's Blessing Anthem attacks Crimson Prison Beast!"

The Saintess mercifully delivered an uppercut, sending the fox spirit flying into the sky, then summoned Judas to unleash a wide-area attack. The sky filled with golden spears became the last image in Crimson Prison Beast's memory.

Crimson Prison Beast LP: 8000 → 0

"Impossible!" Crimson Prison Beast screamed in despair as its body turned into fragments and vanished.

The Twelfth Herrscher of the Previous Era, the Herrscher of Erosion, Crimson Prison Beast, was officially eliminated.

A small purple box appeared where Crimson Prison Beast had vanished. After a series of decomposition and reformation, it transformed into a black and red katana.

The Twelfth Divine Key, the Key of Erosion, Jizo-Mitama, was finally completed in this era.

"This is Jizo-Mitama," Xing walked forward and grasped its hilt. "My first officially obtained Divine Key."

"Big Brother, hello!" Suddenly, a pink-haired loli with fox ears and a fox tail appeared out of nowhere and pounced on him.

"Who are you?" Xing felt she looked familiar.

"Uh, who am I? Oh dear, I don't seem to remember anything. But I feel very close to Big Brother, so I'll follow you!" The fox-eared loli scratched her head, looking adorably clueless.

Xing guessed her identity. "In that case, how about you call yourself Hiyokomaru from now on?"

"Hiyokomaru? That's a nice name, I like it, thank you, Big Brother!" The fox-eared loli, no, Hiyokomaru, was extremely happy.

"Let's go, I'll take you out for fried tofu," Xing activated Jizo-Mitama and left the mental space.

"Fried tofu? Yay!" Hiyokomaru, having forgotten her past and reborn, cheered joyfully.