Chapter 177: Hassan Civil War

"The effect of [ Battle Acceleration (Shadow) ] activates: after dealing damage, draw one card."

Serenity replenished her hand to two cards.

"Now, [ Serenity's ] direct attack!"

With no servants remaining on Gudako's field, Serenity could now inflict direct damage. She hurled several throwing knives, which struck Gudako's body.

Jiang You & Ritsuka Fujimaru LP: 7200 → 5700

"Ugh..."

Although Gudako shared her Life Points with Jiang You, the four-digit damage still sent a sharp pain through her. The pain from this Shadow Game was far more intense than in a normal battle.

"Senpai, are you alright?!"

Mash voiced her concern. Gudako was the heart of their group, and she couldn't help but worry.

"If you can't hold on, let the Heroic Spirits take over, Gudako... Ritsuka Fujimaru, as the last Master, we can't afford any missteps."

Jiang You had intended to improve his rapport with Gudako, but he wasn't sure how to gauge her personality. Her interests and hobbies weren't as detailed as the Heroic Spirits' profiles, so he had to rely on his own instincts.

"Thank you for your concern, but I can still help Mash and the others this way," Gudako said, waving dismissively to reassure them. She had been diligently training in martial arts with the Heroic Spirits at the Singularity precisely for moments like this. She refused to hide behind them forever, knowing there would be challenges she had to overcome on her own.

"I'm too weak, I have no real power. Giving up just because of some pain? That's not me!"

If only she knew, Jiang You thought wryly. Soon she'll be tearing apart Beast-class monsters and pummeling Great God-level Servants with her bare hands. And she still thinks she's powerless?

"Even if you can use your abilities elsewhere, Shadow Games fundamentally target the soul. You should still take it easy," he advised.

"Finally, I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."

Serenity had also exhausted her hand.

"At this moment, the Spiritron Transfer effect activates, and Da Vinci returns to the field!"

Da Vinci: Attack Power 2200

"Yay~ Da Vinci-chan is back!"

Da Vinci surveyed the battlefield. All other Servants had departed, leaving only a single face-down card in Gudako's back row.

"It seems Little Ritsuka is having a tough time. But you've done your best, Ritsuka. Leave the rest to us Heroic Spirits."

Da Vinci turned her gaze to Jiang You. Even with her vast intellect, she couldn't fathom which renowned Servant possessed such an outlandish Noble Phantasm. Curiosity gnawed at her, and she would have investigated thoroughly given the chance. However, since she was currently within Jiang You's Noble Phantasm, there was no need to rush. Da Vinci believed his Deck would reveal everything.

"Lord Jiang You, we entrust the rest to you. Please protect our Master. All of Chaldea is eternally grateful."

"There's no need for such formalities. The last Master of humanity is destined to accomplish the great task of saving the world."

Some might have thought Jiang You was simply flattering them, but he genuinely believed what he said.

"Alright, my turn. Draw!"

Jiang You glanced at his hand. Gudako had depleted so many of the opponent's cards that Cursed Arm wouldn't get another turn. He could finish off the remaining 6,000 Life Points in a single turn.

Everyone watched Jiang You intently, eager to witness his legend unfold.

"First, I Normal Summon Hundred Faces. Her effect activates, allowing me to Special Summon as many copies of herself as possible from my Deck to the field."

Jiang You started with Hundred Faces again. While his Deck contained a few Illya cards that offered some synergy, he still found the Hassan cards more reliable.

Hundred Faces

Attack Power: 800 x 2

Hundred-Faced (Host)

Attack Power: 800

Morning Glory

Attack Power: 0

"Wait!" Xuanzang's mind raced with questions. "I thought the Deck was supposed to represent a Master or Heroic Spirit's past, present, and future. Why are you using the Hassan's Deck?"

"That's precisely the problem," Jiang You replied. "I don't have my own cards." He explained that he did possess one unique card, but it was cursed—once added to the Deck, it was guaranteed to never be drawn, even with Fate's Draw. "Besides, this Hundred Faces isn't the one you know from this Singularity. She's my servant."

Jiang You gestured toward Hassan, who was dressed in an evening gown—an outfit clearly anachronistic for this era. Upon realizing the founder was standing right beside her, the Hundred Faces turned pale green. She immediately knelt alongside the other Hassans, and when Morning Glory showed no reaction, she tugged at her sleeve. The Morning Glory persona, completely oblivious to the situation, couldn't comprehend what was happening.

"It's of no consequence," King Hassan declared. "Having become an independent entity, ignorance absolves her of fault." He pardoned Morning Glory's disrespect, explaining that he was surprisingly approachable as long as the name "Hassan Sabbah" wasn't invoked. Of course, the other Hassan servants would never believe it.

"That only raises more questions," Da Vinci remarked, picking up on something in Jiang You's words. This servant seemed capable of storing Spirit Origin information in multiple locations and then transporting portions, or even the entirety, of that information to different timelines—an ability that bordered on cheating.

"We can discuss the specifics later," Jiang You said. "I'll definitely visit Chaldea eventually. Just remember to reserve a room for me."

Now that they had established a connection, traveling to this world would be effortless for Jiang You.

"No problem at all. Chaldea would be delighted to welcome you," Da Vinci replied.

The real Chaldea wasn't like the one in the game, overflowing with servants. Only a handful remained as permanent residents. Most of the servants Gudako had encountered were temporary contracts formed within Singularities, naturally dissolving once the Singularities disappeared.

"Good to hear," Jiang You said.

Chaldea couldn't possibly refuse, but even if they did, Jiang You had a Script Option to bypass their decision.

"I activate the effect of 'Hundred-Faced (Host)'! I declare a Spell Card!"

He flipped over 'Cursed Arm' Hassan—standard procedure.

"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [ Encyclopedia of Knowledge ]. Since there are five Hundred Faces on the field, all its effects apply. All Assassins on the field gain 500 Attack Power until the end of the turn. I choose one Spell/Trap Card in your back row to destroy, and I draw one card from my deck."

[ Hundred Faces ] Attack Power: 800 → 1300 x 3

[ Morning Glory ] Attack Power: 0 → 500

"I'll destroy the facedown card on the left."

"Before it can be destroyed, I chain activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [ Proof of Existence ]! This card targets one 2-star or lower Assassin on the field, making it indestructible by battle until the end of the turn and reducing all battle damage it takes to 0!"

This card is designed to help Silent Poisonous Body destroy highly resistant servants, but it won't be of much use here.

"Now, I overlay two Hundred Faces to Xyz Summon [ Fanatic ]!"

A girl who looks like she lives next door pops out of the shadows, impatiently shaking her head and yawning boredly. Ever since the Hundred Faces joined Jiang You's deck, she hasn't had a moment's peace. She used to uphold the Hassan's code of secrecy, but she's given up on that long ago.

Fanatic: Attack Power 1000 → 2000

King Hassan watched her lazy movements with unwavering attention.

Cold sweat beaded on Fanatic's forehead.