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

"No," Jiao Tan said with difficulty, two lines of tears streaming down his face. "You were the one who said it, weren't you?"

However, Jason was still very grateful for Jiang You's help. Jiang You's mailbox lit up at this time, which was Jason's favorability reward.

"Anyway, live on strongly." Jiang You gave Jason a few more bottles of potions. The potions produced by Medea's workshop were quite effective, though probably not as good as a certain god of medicine. After witnessing the specific effects, Jiang You even considered whether he could ask Medea to produce some love potions, which might also be used as items to increase favorability.

"Easy for you to say, but how long will this go on?" Jason choked with emotion.

"Wait and hope!" Jiang You looked up at the sky.

Chapter 142 How do you play cards with people outside the game?

After a short break, Illya and Shinji Matou appeared in the audience's sight again.

Illya looked at the seaweed-haired boy opposite her; she truly hadn't expected an ordinary mage without a Servant to have made it this far. However, the two weren't familiar with each other; their only previous meeting was when Rin Tohsaka was looking for her sister. "Even Medea lost to you, that's pretty impressive."

"Are you looking down on me? Someone like her could do it with just her hands." Shinji Matou declared Medea a pushover, claiming his previous wins were solely due to overwhelming deck strength. "Two heroes have already lost to me, and you're next! Just wait and see, little girl, you'll be crying!"

I have to say, Shinji-kun is professional at taking people's blood pressure.

The atmosphere for the duel is set: "Dear viewers, you've waited long enough! The contestants are ready, and the final battle is about to begin. Who will earn the right to challenge the organizers? Will it be the mortal who defeats the legendary Matou Shinji? Or the Illya who fights alongside the legendary Minamoto no Yorimitsu? No need to think, no need to guess, because it's all meaningless! Let's prove ourselves through this duel!"

"Then, the duel begins!" Without much preamble, Hyakumao announced the start of the final match.

Baimao, who was dressed in a formal dress, threw the gold coin, which rolled on the ground, making a crisp sound, and finally stopped on Illya's side.

The duel space unfolds.

“In that case, I’ll make the first move!” Ilya drew five cards from her hand.

Ilya LP4000

Shinji Matou LP4000

Illya looked at her hand. She had to be careful of Shinji Matou's Crest Bug, so she needed to focus on defense in the first round.

"First, I activate the Field Spell Card [Snow Castle]!" The snow-covered castle reappeared before everyone, and some spectators skillfully put on their coats.

"[Snow Castle] effect! Search for one [Ilya] from your deck and add it to your hand!" Ilya added herself to her hand. "Then, due to my own effect, I can Special Summon it since [Snow Castle] is on the field." The leader was the first to step onto the battlefield.

【Illya】Attack Power 1500

"You don't need me to do much, right? I'll liberate myself and Special Summon [Minamoto no Raikou] from the deck!"

The familiar purple thunder fell again, and Minamoto no Raikou appeared.

[Minamoto no Yorimitsu] Attack power 3000

"Illya, be careful. You'd better take him down in one go, otherwise your Servant could easily become his ally. Mom doesn't want to lay a hand on you." Minamoto no Yorimitsu stared intently at Matou Shinji, who was still interacting with his fans. She hated having her things taken away from her. If Illya were taken to the other side by him, she would probably go crazy.

“I understand.” Ilya nodded. Minamoto no Yorimitsu’s special trap card, [Infinite Training], could circumvent the effect of the Crest Worm, and she also had many cards that could deal with it. “Next, I activate [Mysterious Killer], sending one Servant from Kazu to the Graveyard. I send [Ibaraki-doji] to the Graveyard and add one [Watanabe no Tsuna] to my hand. Since the one sent to the Graveyard is an Oni, I also add [Dojigiri] to my hand.”

"[Watanabe Tsuna] has a similar effect to [Sakata Kintoki]. When [Minamoto no Raikou] is on the field, he can be summoned directly without sacrifice!"

[Watanabe no Tsuna] Saber 6-star, Attack Power 2400

"Lord Raikou, I never expected to meet you again in this way." The cold-looking swordsman with a mushroom-shaped haircut appeared from the moonlit bridge and then landed on the battlefield. "Which demon must we slay this time?"

"Oh my, oh my, even Tsuna's here! I'll be looking forward to your guidance here." As his most reliable subordinate, Minamoto no Yorimitsu was quite happy to see Watanabe Tsuna. "I'm entrusting little Illya's safety to you, so don't let me down."

Watanabe Tsuna looked at Illya. He hadn't expected Minamoto no Yorimitsu's Master to be such a delicate girl. He immediately agreed, "I guarantee with my life that no one will harm your Master until I, Watanabe Tsuna, die."

"Hey, what kind of Bushido game are you playing here?" Shinji Matou scoffed at the remark. This wasn't a battle, it was a duel. Who could guarantee the fighter wouldn't take damage? "I can't pretend I didn't hear that. I'll make you do it yourself later. I want to see your expression then!"

"Although I am only good at slaying demons," Watanabe no Tsuna said, not angered by Matou Shinji's words, "it is the duty of every warrior to protect our lord, and I will do my utmost!"

Upon hearing Watanabe no Tsuna's reply, Matou Shinji clicked his tongue in displeasure: "That rigid manner is so boring. If I could, I would definitely want Minamoto no Yorimitsu, but since the current Minamoto no Yorimitsu is ineffective, I don't even want him!"

“Then I’ll leave it to Mr. Watanabe no Tsuna.” Illya responded affirmatively to Watanabe no Tsuna’s answer and continued her actions, “I will equip [Dojigiri Yasutsuna] with [Watanabe no Tsuna].

[Watanabe no Tsuna] Striking power 2400→2900

"【Dojigiri Yasutsuna】effect: Send one 【Shuten-dōji】 from your deck to the Graveyard, and draw one card!" Illya replenished her hand to 4 cards.

"Finally, I covered 3 cards in the backfield and ended my turn!"

"What a terrifying scene." Shinji Matou was certain there would be one or two cards left to deal with his Crest Bugs, but so what? He would still have to summon his Tamashi. "My turn, draw!"

"Since you've activated the field, I certainly can't fall behind. I'll activate [Bug Magic Workshop]!"

The sparse sounds of insects, the dark underground space and the snow-covered castle are abruptly connected.

"Come out, my Tamashi! [Bug Magic Workshop] effect! Special Summon a [Marking Bug] from your deck!"

[Marked Insect] Attack Power 500

"You've already prepared a countermeasure, haven't you?" Shinji Matou noticed Illya glance at her back. As he expected, Illya had taken precautions against the Crest Worms. "But I take other people's Servants in more ways than just this!"

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Record Holder]! Special Summon a [Matou Shinji] from the Deck! Then, place a card from my hand over the backfield."

[Shinji Matou] Attack Power 200

[Marking Insect] Attack Power 500 → 0

"Did you all miss me?" Shinji Matou continued interacting with the audience, a sinister smile on his face as he looked at Tsuna Watanabe. "I keep my word! Because of my effect, I'm activating this card I just set to face down, [Book of False Servants]! Come here and get me!"

Shinji Matou LP4000→LP2500

“Kintaro’s attack power is clearly higher, yet you summoned him.” Shinji Matou continued, smiling at Illya. “Obviously, you have other ideas, so he possesses an effect that can counter Crest Bugs, right?”

Chapter 143 It's just a little boasting, why such a big reaction?

"Why are you playing dirty tricks in a duel?" Ilya's expression changed slightly; Matou Shinji had completely seen through her little scheme. She equipped the Dojigiri to Watanabe no Tsuna to lure Matou Shinji into stealing Watanabe no Tsuna. During the battle phase, Watanabe no Tsuna would destroy cards with lower attack power than himself before damage calculation, perfectly avoiding the effect of the Crest Worm.

“That’s called tactics.” Shinji Matou knew he’d guessed right. Watanabe no Tsuna could deal with the effects of the Crest Worms, but not the Book of False Servants. “Even in normal combat, intelligence is an extremely important factor. Look at Sasaki Kojiro; he didn’t expect his opponent to be so unethical, and he was killed by Musashi with a boat oar. Even a sword saint would be like that, let alone me?”

[Watanabe no Tsuna] Attack power 2900 → 1200

"I'm so sorry, Raikou-sama! If it weren't for the rules, I would commit seppuku right now!" Watanabe no Tsuna had just said he would protect Illya with his life, but he didn't expect to be proven wrong so quickly.

“It doesn’t have to go this far…” Illya always felt that every Servant in Heian-kyo was a bit strange. “It’s not like you did it willingly.”

“That’s not the case.” Minamoto no Yorimitsu said solemnly. She didn’t think so. “Even if a warrior has no choice, he cannot betray his lord. If Watanabe no Tsuna were to appear before me normally, I would personally cut off his head.”

“We don’t need to start like that.” Ilya looked at her back row. To ensure victory, she would probably have to send Minamoto no Yorimitsu over as well. She was in a difficult situation. “And I have something to say, Yorimitsu, please don’t do anything rash. It seems I can’t keep you on my side anymore. I can’t stop the [Crest Worm]’s attack right now.”

"!!!" Minamoto no Yorimitsu was shocked, her chest heaving with disbelief. She quickly covered her mouth and tears streamed down her face. "I never imagined I, as a mother, would betray my own child. I'm so sorry, so sorry!"

"Once we're done here, Mom will kill this guy and then commit suicide!"

"Huh?" Shinji Matou subconsciously pointed to himself. He hadn't done anything yet; he couldn't just play cards and not get any effect, could he? "Wait, what did I do? Am I going to die?"

"Really, there's no need for this!" Illya was now certain that every Servant in Heian-kyo was neurotic; no Servant would commit suicide for something like this.

"You can forgive your mother even after all this? Illya is so thoughtful!" Minamoto no Yorimitsu was so moved that she cried. When it came to the word "children," her rationality evaporated, and she didn't act like a Heroic Spirit at all. "Mom will be your Servant for life!"

"Anyway..." Matou Shinji glanced cautiously at Minamoto no Yorimitsu, worried that she might suddenly attack. Judging from Yorimitsu's behavior, she was indeed someone who wouldn't listen to reason. "I need to deal with myself first. This attack reduction effect is too damaging. I can't just charge into Yorimitsu's attack power; I'll die. I usually summon [Matou Sakura]!"

【Matou Sakura】Attack Power 1200

"Sakura, being able to draw her directly this time was a huge help." This was one of only two times Shinji Matou had drawn Sakura directly; the previous time was during his duel with Cú Chulainn. He couldn't find her at other times. "Without you, I don't know what I would have done. [Matou Sakura] effect: Sends myself to the other side!"

"Enter the battle phase! First, the [Marking Bug] attacks [Minamoto no Raikou]!"

Minamoto no Raikou came to Shinji Matou's field and stared at him with murderous eyes.

"...Calm down, calm down." Shinji Matou said somewhat awkwardly, "I'll let you make the first move, but you can't attack me after this! [Minamoto no Yorimitsu] attacks [Shinji Matou]!"

If it hits, it will cause up to 2800LP of damage. Shinji Matou meant to let Minamoto no Raikou take action first to relieve his anger, but Minamoto no Raikou found that his attack would hurt Illya, so the murderous intent in her eyes became even stronger.

"Sorry, Raikou, this might hurt a bit. I'll activate the Trap Card [Support Shot] to destroy [Minamoto no Raikou]!"

The bullet pierced Minamoto no Raikou's forehead, but she smiled with relief.

"You could have used that effect to destroy the Crest Bugs!" Shinji Matou realized something was wrong; Illya's earlier statement about not being able to deal with it wasn't true. "You...you're lying to me?"

"That's called tactics." Ilya smiled back at Shinji Matou. "You taught me this. You can use my reactions as an information deduction card effect, and I can also use false information to confuse people."

Next, Illya activated her backrow card: "I activate the Trap Card 'Infinite Training'! Special Summon one 'Minamoto no Yorimitsu' related Servant from my hand and Graveyard to my field! And Special Summon one 'Mount Ooe' related Servant from my opponent's Deck and Graveyard to their field. Servants summoned by this card's effect are immune to the effects of 'Infinite Training' and other effects except for Servants summoned by 'Infinite Training' until the end of the next turn!"

[Minamoto no Yorimitsu] Attack power 3000 → 2500

A blonde, horned flat-class loli appeared on Shinji Matou's field with a pair of huge ghost hands.

[Ibaraki-doji] Berserker 6-star, Attack Power 2400

"Isn't this Tsuna? He's not an opponent, but an ally, and the opponent is Minamoto no Yorimitsu?" Ibaraki-dōji laughed heartily at the chaotic scene. "What? This is so interesting! It's delightful!"

"But your aura is incredibly weak. Where's the momentum you had when you severed my arm?" Ibaraki-dōji noticed something amiss with Watanabe no Tsuna's attack power. "So you're slacking off just because you're on my side, huh?"

"If I could, I'd like to fight you again." Despite being legendary rivals, their relationship doesn't seem to be as irreconcilable as it appears.

"You haven't changed a bit at all, have you?" Ibaraki-dōji shook his head, turning his attention to Matou Shinji. "Hey, you seaweed-haired guy, you're the main fighter in this battle, right? Let me cause a ruckus! If you don't, I'll twist your head off!"

"With your attack power, are you even capable of causing any trouble?" Shinji Matou was threatened with death again. He looked helplessly at the Servant who jumped out of Minamoto no Yorimitsu's deck. "If your attack power were 100 points higher, you could have sent Minamoto no Yorimitsu packing. You created such a good opportunity!"

"What nonsense... No, I'm the ghost, what kind of human talk is this!" Ibaraki-doji didn't care about that. As a ghost, she was extremely willful. "Why don't you say that if you were even a little less useful, you could reduce the attack power by another 100 points and that would be enough to solve the problem?"

Chapter 144 Even though he's dead, Su can still be a monster.

"As expected of Illya!" Minamoto no Yorimitsu didn't care that Illya had killed her once; she was now filled with joy at returning to Illya's field. "It's just that this trap card always brings these bugs onto the field together. We only need Genji-related Servants! Mom, I have to give that Caster a good talking to."

"Let me exit the battlefield first, no matter what. Maximize the damage." With the addition of Ibaraki-doji, Shinji Matou's damage output has increased. "[Ibaraki-doji] Attack me!"

"I've been wanting to get back at you for a while now! Grit your teeth!" Ibaraki-dōji's punch carried some personal grudges, and the punch from the great demon landed directly on Matou Shinji's face.

Ilya LP4000→LP1800

The damage, which exceeded half her health, caused Illya to cry out in pain. Jiang You had been the main fighter up until now, and she had never suffered such heavy damage in a duel before, which made her unprepared. This sound made Minamoto no Raikou look distressed, and she could no longer suppress her killing intent.

"So Jiang You was suffering like this all along?" Actually, she was mistaken. Jiang You's pain was actually much less than others, and it was within the threshold that most normal people could tolerate.

So Jiang You received another favorability reward from Illya, which made him a little confused.

"Ouch! You just wait!" Unlike Minamoto no Yorimitsu, Ibaraki-dōji wasn't a formally introduced Servant, so Matou Shinji wasn't afraid of her revenge. That punch almost made Matou Shinji cry. "Don't give me a chance!"

"Ibaraki Douji's effect is once per turn. When a Servant is destroyed, it increases the Attack of all Ōeyama servants on the field by 300 points. Since she is the only Ōeyama servant on the field, only she gets the increase. What a useless effect!"

[Ibaraki-doji] Attack power 2400→2700

"What nonsense are you talking about? I can draw a corresponding magic card when I appear!" Ibaraki-dōji was not happy to be told this by Matou Shinji, and she made a point of explaining her effect.