"Fergus, kill all of the enemy's Servants! Start with me! [Fergus], attack [Cú Chulainn]!"
At Cú Chulainn's command, Fergus swung his spiral greatsword and charged toward him.
"You think you can turn this situation around with just one card?"
Matou Shinji's field had resistance that could block four attacks, so he hadn't expected Cú Chulainn to be able to handle it all with a single card.
[Good! Fergus easily defeated Cú Chulainn, as if recreating the legendary battle! Though, unfortunately, our Child of Light couldn't fight at full strength!]
An attack power of 3400 almost killed Shinji instantly. Losing more than half his life points in one blow had him writhing in pain — in all his duels against ordinary magi, he had never suffered such a heavy hit.
"Agh! It hurts! It hurts so much!"
Tears streamed down Shinji's face.
Matou Shinji LP 2500 → LP 350.
Cú Chulainn returned to his own field.
"You look pathetic! Crying in the middle of a fight — how shameful! I told you, don't underestimate Heroic Spirits! [Fergus]'s effect: if no other Servants on my field have attacked yet, he can declare three attacks!"
Known for his ferocity, the Celtic hero Cú Chulainn showed open disdain for Shinji's miserable state.
"If you're a man, grit your teeth! Fergus, attack Matou Zouken!"
Fergus's spiral sword pierced another target.
Since Matou Zouken was in Defense Position, Shinji didn't take any damage.
"Good job! Fergus, for the third atta—"
Cú Chulainn suddenly realized something was wrong. If he attacked again, something bad might happen.
The effect of the Crest Worm would grant it control of any Servant that destroyed it. If [Warrior's Boiling Blood]'s coin toss had landed tails, Fergus would be destroyed after attacking. Though Fergus's attack was slightly lower, it wouldn't hand a strong Servant to the opponent.
"I should have said it sooner."
Finally regaining his composure, Shinji wiped his tears. Sure, he was afraid of pain, but he wanted victory even more — be it the gamble or the throne of first place, he had no intention of giving them up. So he couldn't afford to lose his momentum."You know, getting tails would've been better here! And you said my luck was bad — obviously, it's your luck that's awful!"
"You're spouting nonsense!"
Cú Chulainn refused to admit his bad luck, especially if it meant he was worse than this seaweed-headed guy."Landing heads gives maximum damage! Look at your life points, flickering like a candle in the wind! I'll finish you soon enough!"
"Cú Chulainn, what are you hesitating for? One more swing and victory's yours! Don't waver — that's not like you!"
Fergus urged Cú Chulainn to attack.
"No... you don't get it. If you destroy that thing, it'll pull you to his side too."
Cú Chulainn looked at Fergus's 3400 ATK — a value even Scathach would have a hard time breaking. But if he didn't deal with it, it would be worse.
"Anyway, you can't attack. [Bazett] should handle it—"
"Cú Chulainn!"
Fergus cut him off angrily."How can you let your Master — a lady — deal with something like that?"
"And there you go again, losing your brain the moment a woman's involved! That's—"
Bazett calmly stepped between the two bickering men, stopping their quarrel.
"Both of you, enough. I'm not some fragile damsel. I've dealt with plenty of bizarre magi — this is nothing. Cú Chulainn, let me handle it."
With Bazett's firm words, Fergus had no choice but to turn his head away reluctantly.
Bazett kicked the Crest Worm into the air, then smashed it precisely with a full-powered punch, splattering herself with the worm's juices.
Thus, Matou Shinji gained control of Bazett.
[It's truly tragic to see a Master pitted against their own Servant. Matou Shinji's tactics not only torment his opponents physically but also relentlessly attack their hearts. How despicable!]
"Then, I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn."
Cú Chulainn glared furiously at Shinji. This tactic of mindlessly turning his allies against him reminded him of a certain someone.
Shinji was about to draw his card when he noticed Cú Chulainn casually leaping from the Main Phase to the Battle Phase.
"???!!!!"
Wait, cheating this openly?! Shinji was stunned.
[Cú Chulainn] ATK 2500.
"[Cú Chulainn]'s effect: After being sent to the graveyard, he can return to the field in the next turn."
Seeing Shinji's shocked face, Cú Chulainn grinned."Relax, I'm not immortal. After I leave the field again, I'll be banished."
"Geez, you scared me!"
Shinji had also tried sneaking into the Battle Phase earlier... and failed.
"My turn! Draw!"
"Your Master is useless on my field anyway. I can't even activate her effect. So, I'll activate the graveyard effect of [Matou Zouken] to release [Bazett] and Special Summon from the grave!"
Bazett turned into light and returned to the deck, while small insects began forming into a humanoid figure.
"Don't even think about it!"
To Cú Chulainn, Matou Zouken was Shinji's only ace Servant — just boosting his defense slightly would make him an immovable wall. Combined with tribute replacement effects, it would be tough.
"I'll activate [Fragarach] to negate [Matou Zouken]'s effect!"
The Noble Phantasm that reverses causality severed the swarming insects, foiling Zouken's resurrection.
"How's that, kid? Pretty rough, huh?"
Taking out two Servants in one move, Cú Chulainn was practically beaming."I feel the scales of victory tipping toward me. This Noble Phantasm can be used again next turn. With you down to just 350 LP, what can you even do?"
"It is indeed a tough Noble Phantasm... but aren't you forgetting something? My [Wormcraft Workshop] lets me summon a worm once per turn. So — [Crest Worm], come out again!"
[Crest Worm] ATK 500.
The nasty bug that could steal Servants returned to the field.
"Meaning, as long as [Fergus] stays on the field, I'll always have a chance to take him. In front of me, using a powerful card comes with a hefty risk!"
"Battle Phase! [Crest Worm] attacks [Fergus]!"
The spiral sword easily destroyed the Crest Worm, but under the rules, Fergus was seized again, turning against Cú Chulainn once more.
"Now it's my turn to unleash three attacks. Can you handle it, Cú Chulainn?"