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

"Let's take Illya as a reward."

"..." Kiritsugu was silent for a long time. Finally, he straightened his wrinkled collar and slowly asked in a calm tone, "As expected of Caster, you perfectly grasped your Master's information in just a few minutes. So you should know Illya's age."

"8 years old?" As an old fan of the D world, Jiang You almost blurted out the answer.

"Now that we know everything, there's nothing more to say." Meanwhile, Emiya Kiritsugu read through the rules of the duel, one by one, as well as Jiang You's Servant profile. With no escape route, he decided to give it a try. A dark, ominous aura began to envelop the entire space.

"I will launch a dark duel, and the price is my soul!" Emiya Kiritsugu said in an extremely calm tone, but his anger could be seen with the naked eye.

"NPCs can actually get angry, and their logic is so coherent, their intelligence is really good." Looking at the eager Emiya Kiritsugu, Jiang You sighed, saying that this game could almost be a simulation of life. Then he discovered his blind spot, "When you called me Loli Sora, did you ever think about Irisviel?"

The black aura stagnated, and the dark duel failed to be successfully launched due to the user's problem.

"She is only nine years old!" Jiang You added without hesitation.

Time almost froze. Irisviel looked at Emiya Kiritsugu's face and found it hard to imagine that her husband, who was always calm and serious, would show such an indescribable expression.

Seeing that the plot was paused, Jiang You performed a sikp.

"Then I go first, draw a card!"

Chapter 2 It still has to be you, Emiya Kiritsugu. Who is more righteous than you?

"No, what is this? Where is my pre-assembled White Dragon initial deck? My Tamashi! Old K, I'm ****!" Looking at the five meaningless cards in his hand, Jiang You let out a cry of grief.

This version of Yu-Gi-Oh is very different from OCG and MD. In order to enhance the sense of immersion, cards are very difficult to obtain. The White Dragon in the pre-draw stage is a very rare thing. Jiang You’s enthusiasm is also due to this.

"But since you specially created these cards for this collaboration, I should give you some credit." Since he was already there, Jiang You figured he might as well make the best of it. Even without having studied this special collaboration deck, he didn't believe the initial tutorial-like sections would be too difficult, and he started playing instinctively. "I activate the Spell Card [The Unfulfilled Promise]."

The effect is to send one card from your hand containing either 'Emiya' or 'Einzbern' to the Graveyard. Add 1 'Snow Castle' card from your Deck to your hand.

Sadly, the collaboration lacked a Duel Disk, leaving the deck floating in mid-air, with blue lines marking all the slots. From below, it was all pitch black, with only the card backs thoughtfully redesigned to resemble a Heroic Spirit Summoning Array.

"Since we both have the same deck and neither of us has a hand trap, I rush. Then I activate the Field Spell Card [Snow City]."

As the card was played, white snow swept across the entire space, and the interior that was supposed to be a chapel was transformed into the woods outside the Einzbern family's white castle.

"Nice special effects, great! This card can be used once per turn to retrieve a card with 'Einzbern' in it from the deck. I'm going to add this one. [Illyasviel von Einzbern]"

"Activate the effect of [Illyasviel von Einzbern]. This card can be Special Summoned when there is a [Snow Castle] or an 8-star or higher Servant called 'Berserker' on the field. I Special Summon it in Defense Position. Come on, Ilya, it's time to implement your IF line."

As the card was tapped, a girl of about ten years old, whose face was 90% similar to Irisviel, slowly appeared in the light.

"Due to the effect ② of [Snow Castle], the attack and defense of cards with the [Einzbern] attribute increase by 500 points."

[Illyasviel von Einzbern] Defense 800 → 1300

"Where is this...?" Illya, who was summoned in, showed a confused expression. She looked around, the familiar wind and snow, the familiar castle, and the familiar people.

"Kiritsugu pa... Emiya Kiritsugu!?" A cry of extreme surprise echoed through the forest. Then, tears welled up in Illya's eyes. "You liar! Liar! You said you'd come back for me when it was over, and I've waited so long, even though your walnuts have sprouted ten times, and I still haven't seen you come back! Liar, big liar!"

The vivid expression and clear words made Jiang You pause, casually covering the edge with his paddle. You know, this level of agility is only advertised as possessed by cards with Duel Spirits.

"Illya, but isn't Illya still here..." Emiya Kiritsugu looked at his wife, and after receiving an affirmative response from Irisviel who was equally surprised, he said in disbelief.

"Since you have also seen the text description of my Noble Phantasm, you should also know that this card is extracted from the concepts of legend, experience, and possibility. Naturally, there are not many legends about the card that belongs to you, nor is it your past experience. Possibility is the future, which means this is Illya ten years later. Referring to the name and effect of the magic card just now, you should already know the answer." Jiang You gave an explanation at the right time, and by the way, he complained in his heart that Old K really spent a lot of money. The NPC can actually react according to the cards. This time he is really far ahead.

"Mom!?" Illya had also noticed Irisviel's presence, and her unconcealed surprise surged through her voice. However, the rules of the duel prevented her from rushing towards her mother.

"I'm here. Don't cry, dear child." Alice was still a little confused, but the maternal instinct connected by blood made her believe the other party's authenticity, and she responded softly.

"So... I lost this Holy Grail War?" Emiya Kiritsugu questioned. The Heroic Spirit panel the Master saw couldn't be faked. But he wasn't one to give up easily. "But this is just a possibility, right? It doesn't explain everything. Instead, we can use this to infer the Masters and Servants who participated in this battle."

"Just now you said you would send my soul to hell. Dirty adults change their faces so quickly." This time it was Jiang You's turn to show a disgusted expression.

The overly vivid performance gradually made him addicted to role-playing. He continued to talk about the plot of the original world line. "Rather than saying you lost, it's better to say that there is no winner in this battle."

Irisviel ran towards Illya and hugged her in her arms. The girl who had not felt the warmth of her mother for ten years could finally vent her grievances completely.

"What do you mean?" Kiritsugu subconsciously lit a cigarette as he looked at the scene before him. Then, receiving Irisviel's accusing gaze, he could only silently stomp out the cigarette.

Jiang You glanced at the effects of his cards and decided to finish his words before elaborating. He didn't see the countdown anyway. After all, liberating Illya and sending her to the graveyard at this moment was a bit too much. "Your wish is for world peace, right? Don't you think that's a bit too broad?"

"There are many ways to achieve world peace. How will the Holy Grail accomplish this?" Jiang You made a pistol gesture and pressed it against his temple. "For example, if we kill everyone, there will be no more conflict, and perfect world peace."

"Or perhaps all humans could be gathered together, becoming one living being. With all their minds stacked together, there would be no more concept of others. Naturally, there would be no more conflict or death, and a more perfect world peace."

Seeing that Kiritsugu still didn't react much, Jiang You decided to use a more convincing method. "Sure enough, this still isn't shocking enough. Then let's use this to explain it in detail."

The covered card was revealed. "Activate the Continuous Spell Card, [Tainted Greater Holy Grail], banish an 'Einzbern' from the Graveyard and activate its ① effect. While this card is on the field, at the start of each turn, both players recover 1000 Life Points. However, due to the ② effect, all healing effects on both players are converted into Stamina loss. Similarly, ③ effect, attack and defense gains will be reduced."

[Illyasviel von Einzbern] Defense 1300 → 300

A black hole hung in the sky, and malicious black mud continued to flow out of it.

"What should have been a wish of hope has become filled with malice, twisting all beautiful aspirations into the ugliest desires. Incidentally, this card, [Irisviel von Einzbern], is banished from the Graveyard."

I'm so tired, so alone

"My Master, Lord Kiritsugu, the messenger of justice. You failed to save anyone, yet you sacrificed your wife to fulfill your ideals, and this is what you received in exchange."

"The so-called 'Holy Grail'. Hahahahaha"

Stretching his fingers towards the black void, the black-haired young man let out a wanton laugh, which mingled with Illya's sobs and pierced Emiya Kiritsugu.

Emiya Kiritsugu opened his mouth, took several deep breaths, and then looked directly at Jiang You and asked, "But similarly, the Holy Grail can still fulfill wishes, right? As long as I can perfectly define the scope of the wish, I can also complete my tracing of the source."

"Hahaha—Huh? No, buddy." Jiang You's tone suddenly shifted, letting out a sharp, explosive sound. He patted his chest and gave Emiya Kiritsugu a thumbs up. "It has to be you, you pure Emiya Kiritsugu AI. All you can think of is that all-powerful Steel Machine, right? Your mind is full of BYD world peace. Why don't you go support Haiti?"

Three cards were slammed into the trapped area, forming a T-shaped formation with Illya. "Madam, please move aside. The duel must continue. Today, I will give him a hard smack in the face. Three blocks. Pass."

Chapter 3: Urgent, are cards with different names and the same effect considered different paintings?

"Now, it's my turn. Draw a card." Emiya Kiritsugu drew a card to replenish his hand to six cards, following the rules.

The effect of the continuous magic was also activated.

Looking at the tumbling black mud, Jiang You reminded: "Because of the [Tainted Holy Grail], both of us have suffered 1000LP damage."

Jiangyou LP4000→LP3000

Emiya Kiritsugu LP4000→LP3000

They both groaned in pain.

"It's a concept from the past, truly... nostalgic." After adjusting his aura, Miya Kiritsugu looked at the card in his hand with a sad expression. "But precisely because of this, it formed my starting point. I Normal Summon [Xia Lei]!"

A southern girl in a white dress slowly appeared on the field, spun around and looked around curiously.

"What a strange dream. But it feels very real. Sir, do we know each other?" She stared at Kiritsugu and felt that he was somewhat familiar.

Faced with his childhood sweetheart, Kiritsugu opened his mouth but managed to suppress the urge to reminisce, gritting his teeth as he continued his story.

"Activate the effect of [Xia Lei]. When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon a Normal Servant of 1 Star or lower from your Deck. I Special Summon [Emiya Kiritsugu: Young] in Defense Position!"

"Isn't it Lily?" Jiang You shouted dissatisfiedly.

"Ah, Kiritsugu!" Xia Lei seemed a little happy when she saw the boy who suddenly appeared. Seeing a familiar person in an unfamiliar place can make people feel at ease.

"Sister Xia Lei." The spiky-haired boy, who looked half asleep, scratched his head in confusion. "I remember I wasn't sleeping."

"Synchronize [Xia Lei] and [Emiya Kiritsugu - Young]!" Without giving the two a chance to chat, Emiya Kiritsugu went straight to the next step. He couldn't help but utter the line he hadn't anticipated: "The mistakes of the devoted will ignite the flame, and from this the path of justice will sprout. Come out, [Xia Lei - Dead Apostle]!"

【Xia Lei - Dead Apostle】 2-star, Attack Power 1000

Watching the two transform into white light and form a crazed Dead Apostle emitting deathly aura, Jiang You was satisfied with the performance while also trying to psychologically attack Emiya Kiritsugu. The interactive NPCs were truly fascinating. "You truly are a partner of justice. Facing your own White Moonlight, you can be so decisive in making her repeat the tragedy of the past. You're the last one to be inhumane."

"It's just a remnant of the past, something that has already happened." Emiya Kiritsugu lit a cigarette, avoiding Illya's scrutinizing gaze on the field. "Due to the effect of [Xia Lei], when used as material for a Synchro Summon, you can add one [Emiya Kiritsugu] from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand."

"Then I activate the Spell Card [Messenger of Justice]. When this card is activated, I can Special Summon a Servant with the name 'Emiya' from my hand or Graveyard. The one I will summon is naturally [Emiya Kiritsugu] from my hand!"

As soon as Kiritsugu finished speaking, he found himself teleported to the battle area, the area where the Servant card was located.

"Oh, I get it!" Jiang You slammed his palms upon seeing this. "So you're all dueling elves!"

"Wait...what does this mean?" Emiya Kiritsugu felt something was wrong, and a bad premonition slowly seeped into his heart.

"That means the summoned Servants are real people or servants. Referencing the previous conversation between Xia Lei and your younger self, the duel can pull them from different timelines." Jiang You lamented that the crossover design was somewhat uninhibited. "If you don't believe me, ask Illya. Is she a real person? Oh no, a cyborg?"

"Of course alive! Not only alive, but also we have to beat this traitor severely!" Illya complained dissatisfiedly, staring at Emiya Kiritsugu with her ruby-like pupils.

"Okay, let's beat him down!" Jiang You mobilized the power of friendship and bond (one-sided description).

"What I did..." Emiya Kiritsugu shook his body, "Even so, even so..."

Emiya Kiritsugu quickly adjusted his mentality, and after stabilizing himself, he continued the duel. "But this is just your one-sided statement! I activate the effect of [Husu Maiya] in my hand. When there is a Servant with the name 'Emiya' on the field, this card can be Special Summoned. Come on, Maiya."

"Kiritsugu?"

After landing, Hisau Maiya immediately prepared for battle. After scanning the scene with her peripheral vision, she gripped her pistol tightly and aimed it at Jiang You, who was standing opposite Kiritsugu. However, the deathly aura nearby caught her attention even faster.