Jiang You stepped into the Black Mud.
Due to the duel's rules, the Black Mud's inversion effect didn't apply; instead, it was treated as an attack. The Duel Space materialized.
For some reason, Angra Mainyu sensed that even without the duel's protection, All the World's Evils wouldn't be able to harm this man.
"Your turn or mine?"
Facing Angra Mainyu, who had taken on Shirou Emiya's appearance, Jiang You felt little tension. Angra Mainyu's inherent strength wasn't particularly high.
"Such arrogance," Angra Mainyu sneered, sensing Jiang You's dismissive attitude. "You claim to vanquish me and eradicate All the World's Evils, yet you're still shackled by humanity's basest instincts."
"Then I'll go first."
Both players simultaneously drew five cards.
"First, I'll tell the story of a fallen Hero of Justice. I activate [ Justice Fallen into the Abyss ]! From my Deck, I send one [ Taiga Fujimura (Avenger) ] and one [ Shirou Emiya ] to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon [ Emiya (Alter) ] from my Extra Deck."
The card's artwork depicted Taiga Fujimura confronting Shirou Emiya with a gun. Like Archer's summoning method, it involved sacrificing not himself, but his respected guardian, Taiga Fujimura.
Emiya (Alter)
Level 6 Archer
Attack Power: 2500
"Using my history to mock me like this... how ironic," Black Archer muttered as he materialized onto the battlefield, his intellect granted by the Duel's summoning rules.
"Hey, you over there! I'm no saint, but I wouldn't sell my life for someone like you. Listen up: once per turn, my mandatory effect destroys the next Servant you summon. Don't summon your key Servants right away!"
Black Archer defected immediately upon being summoned.
"Let me explain his second effect for you," Angra Mainyu said, unfazed by Black Archer's attitude. "When destroyed, he can discard a Servant Card from your hand as substitute. A man who could unflinchingly shoot his own corrupted family... Was it righteous familial duty, or simply a desperate bid for survival? Who can truly say?"
"You think words like that can provoke me? Compared to that thing, you're nothing."
Black Archer's past was far more brutal than Archer's in this timeline. He cared nothing for the innocent lives his actions might endanger, as long as he achieved his goals.
"That 'thing'? Oh, you mean the 'Bodhisattva,' right?"
Angra Mainyu found it bitterly ironic. The very thing Black Archer had dedicated his life to destroying now existed as a crucial imprint within his Deck. Even in death, he couldn't escape it.
"If you call that thing a 'Bodhisattva,' I might just gouge out your eyes."
Black Archer, realizing what was in his deck, glared at Jiang You with hatred.
"Hahaha! Jiang You, your Noble Phantasm is the truly evil one! You repeatedly force people to relive the past they desperately want to escape."
Angra Mainyu was right. Sakura Matou's deck had always contained the root of her suffering, though she had never used it. Even Romulus couldn't escape the reality of sending his own brother to the Graveyard once more.
"Next, I activate the effect of 'Angra Mainyu' from my hand! This card cannot be Normal Summoned; it can only be Special Summoned by banishing one Servant Card from the Graveyard! I banish 'Shirou Emiya' from the Graveyard to Special Summon myself!"
Angra Mainyu dissolved into black mud and sank into the mud-covered ground, then reconstituted his humanoid form in the Duel Zone.
[ Angra Mainyu ] - Avenger - 1 Star - Attack Power: 500
"Due to my own effect, when this card is Special Summoned, I can add one 'Inversion Fusion' from my deck to my hand!"
[ Angra Mainyu ] - Avenger → Saber
"Angra Mainyu's second effect activates once per turn, allowing me to declare a Class and transform this card into a Servant of that Class. I declare Saber!"
"Saber?" Jiang You immediately thought of someone familiar upon seeing the familiar Class.
"Correct! The condition is a Saber-class Servant plus either an Alter or Avenger-class Servant." Angra Mainyu raised his hand. "I activate Inversion Fusion! By banishing Servants from the field and Graveyard as Fusion Materials, I Fusion Summon—Artoria (Alter)! Let the ruthless King of Ideals trample all rebellious subjects who dare defy you!"
Black and crimson magical power surged across the battlefield as the blindfolded Black Saber materialized.
"Angra Mainyu's effect: An Alter Servant Fusion Summoned using this card as a Fusion Material gains the following effects: Attack Power increases by 1000, and when able to attack, it must declare an attack! Also, when Angra Mainyu leaves the field, I can add one Pseudo-Universal Duplication from my Deck to my hand. I'll just activate it now."
Artoria (Alter)
Saber
Attack Power: 2500 → 3500
Jiang You examined Black Saber's effects. They were identical to Artoria's, except the activation condition had changed to "once per turn without requiring the removal of a material." This perfectly suited the "Infinite Magic" requirement, allowing her to activate the ability multiple times if she remained on the field for an extended period. Still, it was difficult to say which card was stronger overall.
"It's a shame she doesn't have Excalibur, but I've compensated for that weakness with other strengths," Angra Mainyu said, gazing at his servant with satisfaction. Based on Shirou Emiya's memories, Black Saber's combat prowess was considerable.
As Black Saber entered the field, she nodded to Jiang You, planted her sword before her, and unleashed her boundless magical power without restraint. She seemed indifferent to whom she fought for, caring only for victory.
Jiang You realized this Black Saber was the inverted version of Artoria summoned by Lancelot. Given her twisted personality, even a brief acknowledgement was a sign of respect. Jiang You responded in kind: "Artoria, it's been a while."
Black Saber nodded again. "Our last duel ended inconclusively. Let us settle the score this time."
It seemed that even in this altered state, Black Saber still brooded over their unfinished duel.
"...?"
Angra Mainyu was surprised that even his inverted servant recognized Jiang You. Black Saber was supposed to be a servant created solely for him, and even the Artoria from the Fourth Holy Grail War shouldn't have had any reason to know Jiang You.
"Your Noble Phantasm—or rather, you yourself—aren't as simple as they seem, are you?" Angra Mainyu asked.
"Are you afraid?"
Jiang You had no idea what Angra Mainyu was imagining, but he saw no reason not to take advantage of the situation.