Chapter 176: Nero, Your Time Isn't Here Yet. Just Be Patient.

If this were merely Serenity's Deck, her strategy would have been completely shut down, forcing her to end the Battle Phase and set up her defenses. But the Servant present wasn't just Serenity; it was Serenity under King Hassan's influence.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Name of Inheritance'! By sending one 'Hassan Sabbah' from the field to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon another 'Hassan Sabbah' from my Deck! I summon... Hassan of the Shining Star!"

A brilliant meteor streaked across the sky, and from within the glittering stardust emerged a young man wearing the same skull mask as all the other Hassans.

Hassan of the Shining Star - Assassin, 2 Stars - Attack Power: 1600

"Where am I...? To see so many Hassan Sabbahs gathered here..."

Shining Star surveyed his surroundings and realized he was in Hassan's temple. A sudden chill ran down his spine as he spotted a towering figure. With unnatural speed, as if his movements were skipping frames, he swiftly knelt before King Hassan. "Ah, Founder!"

"Do not lose focus during the ritual!" King Hassan glanced at Shining Star, signaling him to prepare for battle.

"Y-yes, Founder!" Shining Star eyed his disoriented junior, realizing he was likely being offered as a tribute. "The Founder truly demands strict discipline from his successors."

Shining Star vs. Nero (Bride)

Initiate attack!

1. His effect: When declaring an attack, choose one of the following effects to activate:

2. Until the end of this turn, increase Attack Power by 500. Pay 2000 Life Points; until the end of this turn, increase Attack Power by 2000. This card is destroyed after the battle.

Hassan of the Shining Star's Noble Phantasm significantly enhances his agility and mobility by fully activating his magic circuits. However, if used beyond its time limit, his magic circuits will overload and rupture, causing his body to collapse from within.

Thus, Hassan can unleash immense power for a short time at a terrible cost.

"By the way," Jiang You interjected, completing Serenity's explanation, "when Shining Star deals damage to an enemy Main Battle Zone card, he can banish himself and one other card on the field. He likely intended to use this effect to banish Da Vinci, unaware of her true abilities."

Gudako nodded, as if confirming her intuition. Servants, it seemed, possessed a sixth sense of sorts.

"I pay 2000 Life Points to increase his Attack Power by 2000! Innate Drive!"

Hassan of Serenity & Cursed Arm Hassan LP 8000 → LP 6000.

Hassan of the Shining Star's magic circuits fully activated, causing his entire body to emit a blinding light.

Shining Star Attack Power 1600 → 3600.

The meteor hurtled toward Nero. Burning with his life force, Shining Star's enhanced attack power now surpassed even Nero's, despite her multiple buffs.

"Not so fast! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, 'The Emperor's Prerogative'!"

This card was a cornerstone of Nero's Roman Deck, and even the God Ancestor had used it. "I choose to target 'Nero (Bride)'! Her Attack Power and Defense Power increase by 1000 this turn!"

Nero (Bride)

Attack Power: 3300 → 4300.

Nero's Attack Power skyrocketed to 4300, surpassing even the base Attack Power of a Grand-class Servant. The pure white flames erupting from the Primordial Fire in her hand surged violently, nearly piercing the dome of the Golden Theater.

Even the Shining Star in his current state couldn't block this attack.

"In that case, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, 'Pale Dance of Death'! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'Hassan Sabbah' card from my Graveyard or hand and destroy one Servant Card on the field! I Special Summon 'Serenity'! Destroy 'Elizabeth Bathory'!"

The Dragon Girl didn't even have time to react before Serenity's spectral blade slashed her throat. The Attack Power of all Gudako's Servants decreased by 300. Then, Serenity leaped into the fray.

Nero (Bride)

Attack Power: 4300 → 4000.

Da Vinci: Attack Power 2500 → 2200

Serenity: Attack Power 1500

"Since the number of Servants on your field has changed, the attack is redirected! Shining Star attacks Da Vinci!"

The plan had shifted. Shining Star would forcibly change his target, using his effect to exclude Nero (Bride).

But Gudako's four face-down cards in the back row were not to be underestimated. How could such a formidable defense be breached so easily? "In that case, I activate the Trap Card Spiritron Transfer! I choose one Servant on my field and banish it until the end of this turn. My target is Da Vinci!"

A Spiritron Transfer pod enveloped Da Vinci, leaving Shining Star without an attack target once again. Only Nero remained on the field, her Attack Power higher than his.

"You think that's the end of it?"

Serenity slammed a card onto the field—a card belonging to Shining Star. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Battle Acceleration (Shadow)! This card can target any Hassan Sabbah Servant, making its Attack Power half of their original ATK and allowing it to attack the master directly. If the target is Shining Star, I can draw a card after dealing damage!"

Shining Star: Attack Power 3600 → 800

"Shining Star, direct attack on Gudako!"

By now, Shining Star was numb. He couldn't remember his Noble Phantasm ever lasting this long. Although the Duel's rules prevented him from dying outright, the pain was very real. He just wanted to land this final blow and get it over with.

Little did he know, someone had already set their sights on him. This was a rare banishing effect, and Jiang You wasn't about to let it slip away.

Jiang You glanced at Gudako's last Set Card: the Chaldea Spell Card "Heroic Spirit Summoning System." She had only set it to mitigate the negative effects of "Da Vinci." Its effect was: Can only be activated when there is a Servant on the opponent's field. Reveal the top card of your Deck. If it is not a Servant, banish it and reveal the next card. Continue until you reveal a Servant, then add it to your hand or Special Summon it.

Judging by its effect, it was clearly designed for pulling off unexpected plays. Unfortunately, Servants were unavoidable in this Collaboration Event, making it rather impractical in the current environment.

This time, Gudako couldn't block the attack. The Shining Star, transformed into a meteor, crashed into her.

Jiang You & Ritsuka Fujimaru LP: 8000 → 7200

"The effect of [ Shining Star ] activates: after dealing damage to the main combatant, it banishes itself and one card on the field. I choose [ Nero (Bride) ]."

"Huh?"

Once again, Nero was banished without even swinging her sword.