What Holy Grail War? Let's Play Cards!

"Alright, it's my turn!" While Gilles de Rais was still pondering a certain card, the impatient Ryuunosuke Uryuu snatched the initiative.

Gilles de Rais LP 4000Ryuunosuke Uryuu LP 4000

"Let's see... Oh wow, this is amazing! There's actually a card of me! In that case, I summon myself!"

Without hesitation, Ryuunosuke Uryuu slapped onto the field a card depicting his own image. Instantly, he himself appeared in the battle zone.

"Interesting, this is so interesting! I activate my own effect—sending the top three cards of my deck to the Graveyard!"

Three cards from the top of the deck flew into the Graveyard.

Seeing that only one card remained, Ryuunosuke Uryuu pouted in disappointment. "What bad luck, only one? Should've played something else."

[Ryuunosuke Uryuu] ATK 1000 → 1200

After glancing at his hand, Ryuunosuke Uryuu continued his turn. "Then, I activate [The Log of the Fallen Family]—searching my deck for a Ritual-related card and adding it to my hand. I set two cards in my back row and end my turn. Your move, oh demon lord in knight's disguise."

"The wager of this duel is our souls. If you think this is just a game, don't come crying when you regret it later. My turn—draw!" Gilles de Rais found himself disgusted by Ryuunosuke Uryuu's utter disregard for both his own life and that of others. He couldn't understand why Ryuunosuke had chosen to summon this version of him—after all, the truly wicked version of himself from years later would be a far better match as Ryuunosuke's Servant.

"I activate [Battle Summon]! I can only activate this when I have no Servants on my field while the opponent controls one. By discarding one Spell or Trap card, I Special Summon three Level 2 or lower Normal Servants with different names from my deck. Come, my soldiers, fight alongside me once more!"

[French Swordsman] ATK 800[French Spearman] ATK 800[French Archer] ATK 1000

The summoned soldiers, granted knowledge through a certain Noble Phantasm, saluted Gilles de Rais. "Marshal, never thought we'd meet again in this form."

"We must thank some unknown Heroic Spirit for granting us this chance. To possess such an exceptional Noble Phantasm, they must be a well-renowned and powerful existence." Gilles de Rais nodded in response, taking the opportunity to flatter this mysterious benefactor. "We are here for one reason—to strike down the villain who preys upon innocent civilians. Ready your weapons for battle!"

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers responded in unison.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card [Battle Strategy]! I can target one opposing Servant whose Level is lower than the combined Level of the Servants I control and destroy it."

Gilles de Rais pointed at Ryuunosuke Uryuu, giving the order. A group of translucent, spear-wielding soldiers charged forward, piercing him through.

Back at the duel terminal, Ryuunosuke Uryuu rolled on the ground, crying out in pain—yet the flush on his face was unmistakable. "Ouch, ouch, that really hurt! I almost thought I was going to die! The notes were right—this is the true art of death!"

"Hmph. If you love death so much, then prepare to meet your end! I Normal Summon [Gilles de Rais (Saber)]!"

Gilles de Rais himself stepped onto the battlefield. "Entering Battle Phase!"

"First, I attack!" Gilles de Rais dashed toward Ryuunosuke Uryuu, bringing his sword down in a powerful vertical slash that passed straight through his body.

Ryuunosuke Uryuu LP 4000 → 2500

Instead of showing pain, Ryuunosuke Uryuu's excitement only grew. "Yes! Yes! This is the feeling!"

Gilles de Rais ignored Ryuunosuke's twisted reaction. "Due to my effect, all Level 4 or lower Normal Servants on my field gain 300 ATK!"

[French Swordsman] ATK 800 → 1100[French Spearman] ATK 800 → 1100[French Archer] ATK 1000 → 1200

"Next, [French Swordsman] attacks!"

Ryuunosuke Uryuu LP 2500 → 1400

"Then, [French Spearman] attacks!"

Ryuunosuke Uryuu LP 1400 → 300

"And finally..." Gilles de Rais hesitated, his attack slowing down.

"Oh? So even you, my demon lord, don't want this game to end so easily?" Barely clinging to life, Ryuunosuke Uryuu grinned at Gilles de Rais' momentary pause. "Don't worry, the show isn't ending yet! I activate my Trap Card—[Summon of the Sea Demon]! I banish one Servant card from my Graveyard to Special Summon two [Sea Demon Tokens]!"

[Sea Demon Token] DEF 800 ×2

Gilles de Rais' expression eased as he let out an involuntary sigh of relief. "[French Archer], attack a [Sea Demon Token]!"

The arrow pierced through the tentacle-like creature, destroying it.

"I end my turn."

"Alright, my turn then." Examining the battlefield, Ryuunosuke Uryuu rested his hand on his chin, deep in thought. "You've really locked me down, huh? I don't have any cards to break through or any way to keep defending."

Scratching his head, Ryuunosuke Uryuu abandoned his train of thought. "Whatever! Draw!"

"Hmm? [Prelati's Spellbook]? What does this do..." Muttering to himself as he read the card, his eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "Oh! I see now! This is amazing!"

"Demon Lord, this must be your true form, right? This game is so fun! I activate the Ritual Spell Card [Prelati's Spellbook]! As the cost, I send [Gilles de Rais (Saber)] from the field and [Innocent Sacrifice], which I sent to the Graveyard in the first turn, as tribute!"

"Impossible! You don't even have me on the field!" Gilles de Rais struggled against the pull of an eerie, human-skin-bound book that had suddenly appeared in midair. Tendrils of dark purple mist spewed from its cover, dragging him in bit by bit.

"Ah, but the card doesn't specify whose [Gilles de Rais (Saber)] it requires!" Ryuunosuke Uryuu excitedly gestured at his masterpiece. "Oh, and by the way, [Innocent Sacrifice] can be banished from the Graveyard as part of the Ritual cost! It's just like fate!"

"Come forth—the one who defies divine will with his blasphemous deeds! [Gilles de Rais (Caster)]!"

Gilles de Rais, panting heavily, returned to the duel terminal. In front of him, from within the dense mist, a robed figure slowly emerged.

The figure lifted its head—its face eerily identical to Gilles de Rais, save for its two unsettling, erratically wandering eyes.

"By your invitation, I have arrived. I am but a humble servant—Gilles de Rais. From this day forth... no, wait—this isn't a Heroic Spirit Summoning?"