How come the Ace of Cups isn't considered the Holy Grail?

In just a moment, the flames on the field seemed to be completely absorbed by someone, surging towards one spot on the swimming field.

Whether it was a phoenix rising from the ashes and transforming into human form, or a hero donning a phoenix-like battle suit, is now impossible to tell.

All people knew was that when he appeared, he would lead him and his enemies to destruction with raging flames.

[Destiny Hero Destroys the Phoenix]

【8 stars】

[Warrior/Fusion/Dark]

[Attack power: 2500]

[Defense: 2100]

"When the Destroyer Phoenix is ​​on the field, for each 'HERO' card in my Graveyard, the ATK of all monsters you control decreases by 200! Then I set another card, and that's how I end my turn."

Since he couldn't attack in the first round, Yuwatari simply did some basic defense.

"My turn, draw a card."

It's Artoria's turn.

After staring blankly at the cards she had drawn for a long time, she slowly placed one of them in the area where the Duel Disk was intelligently deployed.

"...I activate the Field Spell Card [The Great City of the Paladin and the Holy Sword] from my hand."

As she moved, the ground began to tremble, and white walls rose up around her, transforming the original Ryudong Temple into a giant, pure white castle in the blink of an eye.

Enveloped within, Artoria stood frozen in place, her gaze fixed on the pristine white city wall, her eyes filled with reminiscence.

Despite its completely different appearance from her country, for some reason, she genuinely believed that this city was Camelot.

"I activate the effect of the Field Spell [City of the Paladin and the Holy Sword]. During my next Standby Phase, I banish it and place one [Paladin of the Round Table] face-up from my Deck into the Field Zone!"

"After that, I can Special Summon 1 'Atoris' monster from my Deck or Graveyard, or add 1 'Sacred Sword' card to my hand!"

In the blink of an eye, the environment changed drastically. The group, who were originally near the city wall, were directly pulled to the room in the very center of the castle, where a perfectly standard round table was placed in front of Artoria.

"I Special Summon [Paladin Artoris] in Attack Position!"

As the card was placed, the first figure finally appeared at the round table—a man dressed in iron armor.

Artoria was completely in the zone, and she immediately snapped another card.

"When I have a LIGHT Normal Monster on my field, I can Special Summon [Gawain the Paladin] from my hand!"

A second figure took a seat at the round table.

At this moment, Artoria raised her hand somewhat awkwardly and proclaimed loudly, "Appear! The circuit that guides the future!"

"Arrow confirmed! Summoning condition: 2 Warrior-type monsters!"

"I'll set up a link between [Paladin Atolis] and [Paladin Gawain] on the field! Link Summon!"

A blue square with nine arrows appeared on the field in front of Artoria. As her two monsters on the field transformed into streams of light and filled into two of the arrows, those two arrows lit up.

"Come on! Lin-k2! [Isolde, the Paladin's Remembrance]!"

The Paladin's Remembrance of Isolde

【Lin-k2】

【↙↘】

[Warrior/Connection/Light]

[Attack power: 1600→1200]

Two female figures, one with gray hair and black clothes, the other with blonde hair and red clothes, appeared on Artoria's field as if they were mirror images of each other.

"The effect of 【Isolde, the Paladin's Remembrance】 is activated! If this card is Link Summoned, I can add 1 Warrior-Type monster from my Deck to my hand."

However, during this turn, I cannot add this effect to monsters in my hand, nor can I Normal Summon or Special Summon monsters with the same name, nor can I activate its monster effects.

"I'm adding [Paladin Mordred] to my hand..."

Without looking to the side, Artoria placed the retrieved card into her hand and continued using another effect of Isolde.

"I activate the second effect of [Isolde, the Paladin's Remembrance]! Send any number of Equip Spell Cards of different names from my Deck to the Graveyard, and Special Summon 1 Warrior-Type monster of the same Level as the cards sent to the Graveyard from my Deck!"

"I send the Holy Sword: Steelbreaker in the Lake, the Holy Sword: Galahad, the Holy Sword: Arondette, and the Holy Sword: Sword in the Stone to the Graveyard! Special Summon: Paladin Galahad in Attack Position!"

Unlike the boy in Artoria's memory, the person appearing on the field was a tall young man completely encased in iron armor.

She took out a card from her hand and placed it in the spell trap zone corresponding to Galahad's position.

"Next, equip the [Holy Sword Clarent] from your hand to Galahad on the field to activate Galahad's effect!"

As she watched Galahad's sword change its appearance, Artoria continued.

"This can only be used when this card is equipped with a Spell Card whose name includes 'Holy Sword': Add 1 'Paladin' monster from my Graveyard to my hand, and destroy 1 'Holy Sword' Equip Spell Card on my field!"

Kara!

The sword shattered, but the fragments of light coalesced on the field into another figure.

"I Special Summon [Gawain the Holy Knight] from my Graveyard to my hand! Also, when [Clarent the Holy Sword] is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can equip this card to 1 Warrior monster on my field!"

"I'll equip it to Isolde!"

Seeing Gawain reappear on the field, and Artoria having gathered two Level 4 monsters on the field, Yuuto raised an eyebrow, already prepared to activate the Destroy Phoenix effect at any moment.

However, since Artoria had not yet performed a Normal Summon this turn, Yuuto did not choose to stop her at this moment, considering that she might have another Level 4 monster in her hand.

"I'm stacking the Level 4 Paladin Gawain and Paladin Galahad on the field! I'm creating a stacking network with these two monsters! Xyz Summon!"

"Rank 4! [Holy Knight King Artorius]!"

Atolis, who was sitting at the round table, stood up. His worn-out armor changed, and he put on a set of armor with blue patterns, which complemented the blue patterns on the holy sword in his hand.

【Holy Knight King Artoria】

【Rank 4】

[Warrior/Xyz/Light]

[Attack power: 2000→1600]

[Defense: 2000]

"When I successfully Xyz Summon [Holy Knight King Artorias], I can equip up to 3 'Holy Sword' Equip Spell Cards from my Graveyard to this card!"

"Then chain your effect to activate the effect of [Destiny Hero Destroyer Phoenix] on the field! Destroy it along with [King of Paladins Artorias] on your field!"

Before Artoria could even choose which card to equip, Yuuto had already commanded the Phoenix of Destruction to launch the 'Ultra Bomb' at the monsters on her field.

Enveloped in flames, the Destruction Phoenix charged toward Atolis. After tightly embracing him to prevent his escape, the surging power within him erupted, blasting both of them into pieces.

"Varied--!"

perish together?!

Seeing that only Isolde was left on her field, Artoria gritted her teeth and chose to enter the battle phase.

"...In that case, I'll enter the battle phase. Isolde, you will now launch a direct attack!"

"At this very moment! I activate the face-down card [Call of Kuriboh]! I Special Summon [Winged Kuriboh] from my Deck to my field in Defense Position!"

【Winged chestnut ball】

[Defense: 200]

The number of monsters on the field changed, but looking at the seemingly harmless winged furball on the field, Artoria still did not choose to attack and retreat, but instead resolutely continued to attack.

The Winged Kuriboh was destroyed, but because it was in Defense position, Yuwatari was not harmed.

Despite her reluctance, Artoria could only end her turn after glancing at the remaining cards in her hand.

"...My turn ends. At this moment, [The Great City of Paladins and Holy Swords] will return to the field!"

With the return of the field magic, everyone was pulled back to the city wall.

It's time for Youdu's turn.

"My turn, draw! At this moment! The Phoenix of Destruction in the graveyard will rise from the ashes once more!"

Before even seeing what card he had drawn, Yuuto summoned back the Phoenix of Destruction amidst the astonished gazes of everyone present.

This... this card can actually jump out of the graveyard by itself?!

Youdu: You're right, but that's what destroyed the Phoenix people, I forgot what happened after that.

[Destroy the Phoenix]

[Attack power: 2500]

The Paladin's Remembrance of Isolde

[Attack power: 1600→1200]

"Then I activate the Spell Card 'Easy Contact' from my hand, pay 1000 Life Points, and Special Summon 'Elemental HERO Flamewing Knight' from my Extra Deck!"

[Yoto LP: 4000 → 3000]

Since there is no Neos in his field or graveyard, the monsters summoned by the Easy Contact effect cannot activate their effects or attack, but this does not pose a significant problem for Yuto.

"I activate [Fusion] from my hand! I fuse [Elemental HERO Neos] from my hand with [Elemental HERO Flamewing] on the field!"

"Hey! Come and see for yourself! This is the power of a hero! Fusion Summon!"

"Level 8! [Elemental Heroes: Shiny New Cosmic Knight]!"

A sharp blade slices through the darkness, and a ray of light flashes out.

Waving enormous, steel-like wings, his silver armor reflecting his own light, the newly evolved Neo-Ultraman appeared before everyone in a brand new guise.

【Elemental Heroes: Shining New Universe Knight】

【8 stars】

[Warrior/Fusion/Light]

[Attack power: 3100→4300]

[Defense: 2500]

"For each monster in my Graveyard, the ATK of Shining Neos on the field increases by 300. Furthermore, if this card is Special Summoned, you can destroy the cards on your field based on the type of monster on the field!"

The monsters on the field have both DARK and LIGHT attributes, so Shiny Neoswingman can destroy two cards on Artoria's field, one Isolde and one Field, thus clearing all the cards on her field.

Without showing any mercy, Yuuto directly declared his attack on the empty field facing Artoria.

"Battle has begun! A direct attack from [Elemental HERO Shining New Cosmic Warrior]!"

A swift flash of light appeared, and in an instant, the Flashy New Universe Blade rushed past Artoria at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, its blade taking away all of her life points.

[Artoria's LP: 4000 → 0]

[Yudou: Win!]

Chapter 51 Manifestation

The moment Artoria's health was depleted, her body began to gradually disperse into specks of light that drifted away.

It was a strange feeling. Although there were no injuries on her body and her soul felt no discomfort, the Holy Grail War seemed to have decided that she had been defeated and had left the stage, severing its connection with her.

Artoria looked at her right hand, which was gradually dissipating into particles of light, and sighed inwardly.

As a Servant who appears to have been summoned by her Master but was actually summoned by the Holy Grail itself, Artoria could no longer remain in the mortal world after severing her connection with the Holy Grail, no matter how much magical power she still possessed.

Her current situation is less about leaving the stage due to defeat and more about fulfilling a certain condition for leaving the Holy Grail War.

A kind of barrier that can easily change the rules of the Holy Grail War... no, it should be considered a ritual?

Unlike when she was just watching, Artoria, having personally experienced the Noble Phantasm of the Wanderer, immediately dismissed her previous assumptions.

Only by experiencing it firsthand can one perceive the unusual nature of this duel.

It was an extremely special, large-scale ritual that was no less than the Holy Grail War—no, it should be said that it was even more extraordinary!

Life, soul, wealth, fame... the winner can have it all, while the loser loses everything. A true battle ceremony where the outcome of a card duel determines everything!

However, achieving the conditions for this ceremony is extremely difficult...

Thinking of this, Artoria, who was about to leave the stage, looked at Yuuto opposite her, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

She couldn't help but begin to have doubts...