"Lord Cursed Arm?" Fanatic exclaimed, surprised that her opponent could summon another Hassan.
"Was that ability you just used Presence Severance?"
Cursed Arm recognized the technique as belonging to a previous Hassan. His eyes, hidden behind his mask, scrutinized the Fanatic intently. "You're the Fanatic who failed to earn the title of Hassan but mastered the signature techniques of all the past Hassans, aren't you? Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"
The Fanatic blushed slightly, clearly flattered by the praise from a former leader.
"But now we serve different masters, and I won't hold back! Show me your true strength!"
Even summoned in this manner, Cursed Arm would flawlessly execute his summoner's commands, regardless of their morality—such was his unwavering creed.
"Yes!" the Fanatic responded resolutely.
"As if anyone could hold back in this Duel..." Jiang You muttered under his breath. Where in the Duel's rules was such a maneuver even possible?
"Proper Summon effect: If I fail to destroy the opponent's card, I draw one card," Zouken Matou announced, adding a card to his hand.
"So it's a destruction replacement... Fanatic still has three Xyz Materials, meaning she can substitute destruction three more times..." Zouken Matou observed the Fanatic, realizing how troublesome she was. Considering Cursed Arm's earlier remark about her mastery of all past Hassan techniques, her abilities likely extended far beyond mere destruction substitution.
"Cursed Arm's self-modification effect! I'll destroy one Servant Card on my field to gain half its Attack Power! I choose to destroy Zouken Matou!"
Zouken Matou would never target himself. "Zouken Matou's effect! When this card is destroyed, I can sacrifice another Servant Card on my field as a substitute. Sakura's turn ends soon anyway, making it the perfect sacrifice!"
Cursed Arm's Attack Power: 2000 → 2900!
"I'll set my last card face-down in the back row and enter the Battle Phase!"
Zouken Matou fixed his gaze on Morning Glory. Since he couldn't deal with Fanatic, he'd start with this Servant with 0 Attack Power. "Cursed Arm attacks Morning Glory!"
"Not so fast! I activate my set card..."
Illya couldn't possibly take that massive 2900 damage directly.
"Useless! Cursed Arm is unaffected by Trap Card effects during its attack, and thanks to Proper Summon's effect, it can't be targeted by card effects until the next turn!"
Zouken Matou launched his assault with unwavering confidence, relying on this protection.
"Who said I was targeting Cursed Arm?"
Illya successfully activated her set card. "Battle Retreat! I return Morning Glory to my hand and draw a card!"
Illya had seen Jiang You use this strategy multiple times: leaving Morning Glory on the field to bait out effects, then retrieving it when needed. She had long since learned the trick.
"In that case, Cursed Arm attacks Shinji Matou!"
Zouken Matou had no choice but to target Shinji Matou. He understood that Shinji offered no other advantages, and rather than gamble on Fanatic's unpredictable ability, he might as well deal the straightforward 2700 damage.
"Then, I'll activate Morning Glory's effect! When your Servant declares an attack, I can send this card from my hand to the Graveyard. That monster switches to Defense Position!"
The Morning Glory that had just returned to Illya's hand immediately proved useful. Although Shinji Matou's presence weakened her field and came with severe drawbacks, Illya wasn't willing to take such a heavy blow to her life points.
"Impossible! Cursed Arm can't be targeted by effects!" Zouken Matou snarled, his frustration mounting as his every move was countered.
Zouken realized that every move he made was being interrupted by his opponent, driving him to the brink of fury.
"Since this effect doesn't require targeting, Cursed Arm must switch to Defense Position!"
Cursed Arm: Attack Power 2900 → Defense Power 1500
"I... end my turn!"
Zouken Matou had no cards left in his hand. His last face-down card, if activated, could block a significant portion of the incoming attacks. Only Cursed Arm, immune to targeting effects, was guaranteed to withstand the next assault. He glanced again at the two cards in Illya's hand, knowing she would draw a third at the start of her next turn. It was impossible not to feel anxious.
"My turn. Draw!"
Illya began her turn.
"First, Fanatic's effect. By detaching one Xyz Material, I can destroy a Servant on the field. My target, of course, is Zouken Matou! Delusional Heartbeat!"
Fanatic: 2000 → 1500
A twisted arm reached for Zouken Matou's heart, clenching tightly, ready to send him to the Graveyard.
"I should have seen this coming!"
Zouken Matou gritted his teeth. His Cursed Arm possessed the same effect, and after a moment of agonizing hesitation, he activated it.
"Zouken Matou's effect! Sacrifice the Cursed Arm as a substitute to negate this destruction!"
"Don't worry, your turn is coming. We still have two more materials!" Illya continued activating Fanatic's effect, which had no once-per-turn restriction as long as she had enough materials.
"Target Zouken Matou again! Delusional Heartbeat!"
Fanatic: 1500 → 1000
"What?!" Zouken Matou felt the stark disparity between their decks. He was straining every fiber of his being to counter a single card, while Illya's deck flowed with ease. He regretted not summoning a servant himself from the start; he wouldn't be in such a humiliating position otherwise. "Don't think you've defeated me so easily! Do you know why I sacrificed the Cursed Arm to protect myself? I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, Insect Magecraft Reconstruction!"
"By sacrificing myself! Special Summon two Engraving Worms from my deck in Defense Position!" Zouken Matou used the sacrifice to evade the destruction effect.
Zouken Matou disintegrated, transforming into two Engraving Worms that fell to the ground. His true form reappeared as a worm in the Master Zone.
Engraving Worm: Defense 500 x 2
"Third time! Delusional Heartbeat!"
Fanatic discarded her last material card, destroying one of the Engraving Worms.
Fanatic: 1000 → 500
Since Shinji Matou was still on Illya's field, neither of her servants could directly break through the remaining Engraving Worm.
Zouken Matou breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what Illya summoned next, Shinji's effect would reduce its Attack Power by 500. Given the low base Attack Power of the Hassan Deck, even if they managed to break through the Engraving Worm, he could use its effect to stall for another turn.
Just survive for now.
"Old Man Worm, I'm sorry, but you won't survive this turn. Illya, full health victory!"
Illya declared her victory condition.