Chapter 80: Scáthach, Where’s Your Newcomer Protection?

Two of the Hundred-Faces Hassan stabbed their daggers into Bazett's waist from both sides, drawing a large spurt of blood.

Bazett LP 4000 → 1400.

Just as a third Hundred-Faces Hassan launched their attack, Bazett's Graveyard began to glow.

"The effect of the Spell Card [Boiling Blood of the Warrior] in my Graveyard activates. When an opponent declares an attack, I can banish this card and flip a coin. If it's heads, destroy that Servant and recover LP equal to half of its original ATK. If it's tails, my LP is halved instead!"

This was the hidden secret of the Red Branch Knights—no matter how injured a warrior was, a sip of this elixir could restore their vigor. However, its efficacy depended on the fickle hand of fate.

A golden coin materialized in Bazett's hand. She flicked it into the air with her finger, watching it spin before landing on the ground with a few bounces.

Heads.

"Nice! Luck is on our side, Master!"

Cú Chulainn cheered. Escaping from dire straits was part of battle too.

A silver-rimmed transparent goblet appeared above Bazett's head, pouring a crimson liquid down like a waterfall.

The final Hundred-Faces Hassan, unable to execute their attack, was instead sucked into the swirling red vortex, vanishing without a trace.

Bazett LP 1400 → LP 1800.

"Not bad at all! Now for my last attack—[Morning Glory], direct attack!"

Jiang You declared his final attack of the turn, pressing Bazett's LP further down.

The tiny black-haired girl rammed her head into Bazett's stomach like a battering ram, making her gut churn.

Bazett LP 1800 → LP 1300.

"Main Phase 2, I activate [Hundred Hidden Tomes], tributing [Fanatic] to draw a card. Then, I set two cards face-down and end my turn."

Jiang You held onto his final card and passed the turn to Bazett.

"My turn! Draw!"

As soon as Bazett pulled the card, a chilling wail echoed from it—a lament of the dead, carrying the scent of death.

[Cú Chulainn] ATK 2500.

"Because of my own effect, I'm back!"

Cú Chulainn leaped back onto the battlefield, explaining on behalf of his stunned Master.

"Oi, Master, snap out of it! You drew a good card, didn't you?"

Snapping back to reality, Bazett slammed her drawn card onto the field.

"I activate the Field Spell [Land of Shadows]! When this card is activated, I can banish all cards from my Graveyard to Special Summon the Queen of the Land of Shadows—[Scáthach]—from my Deck!"

The battlefield transformed into a desolate, gray-black rocky wasteland. A solemn and foreboding castle loomed in the distance, nestled between mountains. Then, two piercing red lights shot out from the castle, as twin crimson spears crackling with scarlet lightning plunged into the ground.

From the sky, a black-clad queen descended like a meteor.

[Scáthach]Lancer, Level 10, ATK 3250.

"Additionally, as long as [Land of Shadows] is on the field, any card sent to the Graveyard is banished instead."

The seven walls of the Land of Shadows symbolized the finality of death—once entered, there was no return. This was a world where no sunlight could reach, a true realm of the dead.

"Haha! Master, you're too late to beg for mercy now!"

Cú Chulainn slung his spear over his shoulder in a relaxed manner. Jiang You's deck generated cards based on legends and stories, and Scáthach's power was naturally formidable.

"Lady Scáthach."

As a descendant of the Red Branch Knights, Bazett had grown up hearing tales of Scáthach. She respectfully offered a slight bow.

Jiang You carefully examined Scáthach's effect:

Cannot be destroyed by battle.

Cannot be targeted by effects.

Once per turn, can destroy one Servant on the field.

Can attack all opponent's monsters once each.

"Master, you seem to have gotten stronger. No, wait—what the hell?! You actually survived all these years?!"

Cú Chulainn was stunned, realizing that Scáthach had grown even stronger. He knew of her wish, so he quickly understood.

"Thousands of years have passed, and you've only gotten lazier."

Scáthach's piercing gaze scrutinized Cú Chulainn, making him instinctively tense up.

"Well, it's just a bunch of third-rate Servants on the field… Boring as hell!"

Cú Chulainn glanced at Jiang You's field, filled with sub-1000 ATK Hassans, feeling victory was already in the bag.

"Master, let's enter the Battle Phase!"

Bazett nodded. "Lady of the Land of Shadows, I apologize for the offense! Scáthach's effect—destroy one [Hundred-Faces Hassan]! Gáe Bolg, Piercing Death Flight!"

Scáthach moved with impossible speed, instantly appearing beside a Hundred-Faces Hassan. Her lance, imbued with the concept of an inescapable strike, pierced through Hassan's heart, sending them into the banished realm.

"Battle Phase! Scáthach, attack [Morning Glory]!"

Facing the small girl, Scáthach showed no hesitation. Her short spear shot forth like a shooting star, carrying a lethal 3250 ATK!

"Useless! Quick-Play Spell [Stealth Substitution]! I return a card to my hand to Special Summon a card from my hand with the same class and a level difference of no more than 1."

A cloud of smoke burst around Morning Glory. When it cleared, Serenity stood in her place.

[Serenity] ATK 1500.

"Since her attack target disappeared, Scáthach must choose a new one. Will you attack [Serenity] instead? She's only 1500 ATK."

Bazett didn't know Serenity's effect, but Jiang You wouldn't summon her without reason. Instead, she opted to attack another Hundred-Faces Hassan.

"I won't fall into your trap! I'll attack the leftmost [Hundred-Faces] instead!"

If Scáthach landed two attacks on the Hundred-Faces Hassan, victory was secured. No need to take unnecessary risks.

"A wise choice. But whether you want to or not—you'll attack her anyway! I activate the Trap Card [Confused Command]!"

For the first time, Jiang You used this Trap not to target himself, but his opponent.

"Scáthach, attack [Serenity] instead!"

Just as her spear was about to pierce another Hundred-Faces Hassan, its form blurred and transformed into Serenity.

The venomous blood coating Scáthach's lance splashed onto her body as she retrieved it.

Jiang You LP 4000 → 2250.

"So… this is death?"

Under the game's rules, Serenity's poison took full effect. Scáthach, feeling her life slipping away, looked almost content.

"Even if it was only for a moment… not bad."

"Master… Did she just… lose like that?"

Cú Chulainn blinked in disbelief. His mentor, the Queen of the Land of Shadows—who had spent eternity seeking death—had been taken out just like that?

"Quit staring! You still have an attack to make!"