"That immunity only lasts until the next turn," Rin Tohsaka observed, studying the cards in her hand. Illya was a formidable defensive Servant, but not impossible to break through by force. "In that case, I'll enter Main Phase 2."
"Emiya's effect! Discard a card from my hand to retrieve Caladbolg II from my Deck and equip it. Emiya's effect! Release Caladbolg II to destroy Kiritsugu Emiya!"
Once again, Emiya launched the Spiral Sword like an arrow, aiming at Kiritsugu Emiya. It was a touching scene of father and son sharing a smile—a son who had just struck down his father.
"Not so fast! My own effect—once per turn—negates that destruction!" Illya promptly activated her ability, a strategic exchange of resources. If she didn't use it to protect herself, Minamoto no Raikou would find it much harder to safely activate her own effects.
"You activated your effect, didn't you? Just as I planned! Jeweled Sword's effect! Discard a card to negate Illya's Dress of Heaven's effect and destroy it!"
Rin chained her Jeweled Sword's effect, nullifying Illya's negation and destroying both cards in one fell swoop.
Rin Tohsaka: LP 1850 → 2100
Illya: LP 2750 → 2500 → 2000
"Good job, Emiya-kun!" Rin Tohsaka praised.
"Call me Archer. I've severed all ties with him," Archer declared, decisively distancing himself from Shirou Emiya.
"Severed ties, Mr. Hero of Justice? Weren't you just talking about saving the world?" Rin retorted, deliberately emphasizing the words to mock Archer's earlier actions.
"Finally, I activate Sapphire Magecraft to return three Jewel Spell cards from my Graveyard to my Deck, and then I draw a card!"
Rin Tohsaka: LP 2100 → 2350
Illya: LP 2000 → 1750
"I set one card face-down in my back row. Your turn."
Having successfully triggered Tokiomi Tohsaka's effect three times to its maximum limit, Rin ended her turn. At this point, Minamoto no Raikou's immunity to other card effects also expired.
Minamoto no Raikou: Attack Power 3000 → 3500
"My turn. Draw!"
Illya glanced at the card Rin was clutching in her hand. She couldn't be sure if it was a Jewel Spell card, but she had to test the waters.
"Dōjigiri Yasutsuna's effect activates! It sends one Mount Ōe servant from my deck to the graveyard and draws one card!"
Rin Tohsaka chose not to counter the effect and activated her Jeweled Sword instead. Illya successfully increased her hand size to two cards.
"Then in that case! Sakata Kintoki's effect activates! As one of Yorimitsu's Four Heavenly Kings, he can be summoned without a sacrifice as long as Minamoto no Raikou is on the field!"
Sakata Kintoki
Berserker, 7-Star, Attack Power: 2800
"Kintarō?!"
This legendary figure, whose fame in Japan rivals even Momotarō, ignited the audience into a frenzy.
"Wow, what a grand welcoming ceremony! This is truly extraordinary! How does that saying go... Ah, yes! It's GOLDEN!"
Sakata Kintoki, clad in Heian-era samurai armor, materialized amidst golden lightning to thunderous applause.
"Master Raikou! This Noble Phantasm is pure GOLDEN!"
"Goodness... where on earth did you pick up all these strange things?"
Minamoto no Raikou sighed, pinching her cheek in exasperation. Modern knowledge had warped Sakata Kintoki's behavior into something utterly bizarre.
"I'll scold you later. For now, focus on helping your little sister properly."
"Sister...?"
Kintoki turned to look at Illya, noticing her childlike appearance. Seeing that she couldn't be older than ten, he realized his Master's old habits had likely worsened.
"Master, you must be exhausted," he said.
Raikou was visibly devastated by this remark, looking on the verge of tears.
"It's not so bad," Illya replied. "Raikou takes wonderful care of me."
Illya relied heavily on Raikou for her daily needs and genuinely liked her servant. If only she wouldn't insist on being called "Mother," it would be perfect.
Raikou's mood instantly brightened. "Kintoki, if only you were half as well-behaved as Illya!"
Kintoki desperately wanted to retort but swallowed his words for his own sake and Illya's.
"Sakata Kintoki's effect activates! Once per turn, choose a servant to destroy and inflict half of their original Attack Power as damage to the opponent! Golden Impact!"
"Alright, let's do this! Big Golden!"
Kintoki leaped forward, unleashing a powerful strike at Archer.
"Even though Shirou Emiya-kun isn't a famous servant, as a Hero of Justice, he won't fall so easily!"
"Rin, you?!"
Archer couldn't say anything, as he was the one who had made the initial mistake.
"I activate the effect of Emerald Gem Magecraft from my Graveyard to negate this effect!"
Kintoki's attack was blocked by a shimmering green jewel barrier.
"Impressive," Kintoki remarked, unfazed by his failed strike. After all, he was facing an opponent capable of challenging Minamoto no Raikou; some strength was to be expected.
But Illya's assault wasn't over. She pressed again, trying to force Rin Tohsaka to use a card from her hand.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Manifestation of the Thunder God! This increases Minamoto no Raikou's Attack Power by 1000 and destroys all servants on the field with less than 2000 Attack Power! Weak Oni and servants have no right to stand against Minamoto no Raikou!"
Thunder poured down from the sky, engulfing the entire arena.
Of all the servants present, only Tokiomi Tohsaka had less than 2000 Attack Power. He was reduced to charred ashes in the lightning storm.
Minamoto no Raikou's Attack Power: 3500 → 4500.
Raikou's Attack Power shattered the audience's understanding of combat strength once again, now matching Hercules's Hundred Head Shot at full power.
"And she still hasn't used that hand card?"
Illya could win by attacking directly, and she had a pretty good idea what that face-down card in Archer's back row was.
"Alright, moving to the Battle Phase! Minamoto no Raikou attacks Emiya!"
No matter how much Archer boosted his Attack Power, he was no match for Raikou's god-slaying strike. The devastating attack barreled toward him.
"I activate the Trap Card Seven Heavens Shield! By discarding one card from my hand, my servants cannot be destroyed by battle until the end of this phase, and I take no battle damage!"
Seven petal-shaped shields materialized, blocking the raging thunder. Archer successfully defended against the attack.
"Not again..." Archer sighed. "Then I activate the effect of Dress of Heaven from my Graveyard! By banishing one Einzbern servant, I can Special Summon it in Defense Position."
Dress of Heaven's Attack Power: 1200.
"I end my turn."
Illya had four cards remaining: three servants on the field and one face-down card. Raikou still had two cards in her Graveyard that could substitute for destruction, while Dress of Heaven granted immunity to battle destruction.
"So, Rin Tohsaka, how do you plan to win this?"