Chapter 167: Jewels and Shadow-Ignited

"Gem Knight Xiao Liu is our Gem Knight Corps' healer."

Seeing Xiao Liu slowly raise its hand, controlling the puppet strings to draw a card, Bai Jing began explaining accordingly.

"Generally, after we fight other factions' spirits, they heal us… damn it, it must be because I got infected, and it followed the dimension to find me, preparing to heal me—when these bastards caught it!"

Tiancheng Guang could feel Bai Jing's frustration and anger clinging to him.

Previously, when it learned that its own infected Shadow-Ignited form had become a tool for others, it was already filled with remorse; now, seeing its own kind, the healer spirit, reduced to this pitiful state trying to save it, the guilt overwhelmed it.

Fortunately, Tiancheng Guang arrived not too late.

If Xiao Liu had truly transformed into Shadow-Ignited Nephilim, it might have been directly controlled by Tierra—but Bai Jing would likely carry this guilt for life.

After all, spirits are spirits; once transformed, they seem unlikely to revert.

As for its current state, it bears some resemblance to "Gem Knight Nephilim."

Xiao Liu slowly controlled the puppet strings on its body and began its turn.

First card.

A massive card fell from the sky, crashing onto the ground with a thunderous impact; the card, taller than a person, flipped over to reveal its face.

"Bright Fusion?" Tierra saw the card and smirked. "Tiancheng Guang, looks like you're about to be hit by your own card."

Tiancheng Guang didn't respond. Upon realizing the opponent was Xiao Liu in an incomplete transformation, he had already prepared himself.

It revealed two cards, emitting a hissing sound.

"Are the fusion materials Gem Knight Xiao Liu and Gem Knight Qingyu?" Tiancheng Guang watched its actions intently.

After a strange distortion, a fusion monster adorned with puppet strings appeared on its field.

Gem Knight Lanyu, Level 6, Earth Attribute, Aqua Type, Defense 2600.

"Aaaah—"

Bright Fusion glowed brightly.

Although Bright Fusion can use cards from the deck as fusion materials for a Fusion Summon, the resulting monster's Attack and Defense become 0.

Gem Knight Lanyu, DEF: 0

"Starting with Lanyu?" Tierra nodded slightly. "As a defensive tool, it can bounce back one card—still pretty useful."

Then, Gem Knight Xiao Liu set two cards face-down and ended its turn.

Tiancheng Guang drew a card, glanced at it, and raised an eyebrow.

Huh—

This hand is hellish.

He looked up at Tierra beside him. Seeing him look, she immediately flicked her hair, turned her back, and snapped irritably: "What are you staring at? Do you think I'd tamper with your hand? Me?"

Right.

Tiancheng Guang nodded.

"Sorry, instinctively looked over," Tiancheng Guang apologized.

So, it's a normal starting hand.

If that's the case…

"I activate a spell card from my hand—Shadow-Ignited Fusion!"

"This card is a fusion spell exclusive to Shadow-Ignited monsters. You can send fusion materials from your hand and field to the graveyard to perform a Shadow-Ignited Fusion Summon. But—if the opponent has a monster specially summoned from the Extra Deck—"

"Then, monsters from your own deck can also be used as fusion materials."

"I send Shadow-Ignited Falcon and Elemental Hero Wingman from my deck to the graveyard! Fusion!"

"Fusion condition: a Shadow-Ignited monster and a Wind-attribute monster!"

"Fusion!"

"The Wind-embodied Divine Shadow-Ignited—Shadow-Ignited Wendigo!"

Click-clack…

A series of crackling sounds; a giant mechanical dolphin rose from the pitch-black ground, its entire body controlled by puppet strings. Before it stood a pale, bloodless mechanical girl, gripping a black staff, rigidly rising upright.

Shadow-Ignited Wendigo, Level 6, Wind Attribute, Psychic Type, Attack 200.

"Shadow-Ignited Falcon's effect: when this card is sent to the graveyard by card effect, you can special summon it face-down on the field!"

With a screech, a mechanical falcon, controlled by puppet strings, was dragged violently from the graveyard and face-down covered on the field, transforming into a black stone emitting dark mist.

"Attack! Directly use Wendigo to attack!"

"Whoa, even 200 Attack can attack," Tierra chuckled beside him.

The opponent's Defense is a full 0—this is the perfect moment to strike.

Wendigo wobbled as it raised its staff; the dolphin behind it immediately flew up and slammed into Lanyu's shield.

Xiao Liu clearly froze, confused by the current situation, but instinctively didn't intervene, allowing Lanyu to be destroyed.

After Lanyu was destroyed, the sword and shield in its hand spiraled and stabbed sharply into the face-down card Tiancheng Guang had set, then the black stone emitting mist flickered and returned to Tiancheng Guang's hand.

Gem Knight Lanyu's effect: when this card is sent from the field to the graveyard, you can target 1 card on the opponent's field; return that card to the opponent's hand.

Tiancheng Guang didn't respond to this effect—mainly because he didn't care which card returned.

He was primarily using this to negate Lanyu's effect.

"End Battle Phase, enter Main Phase 2. I summon a face-down monster on the field." Tiancheng Guang summoned a face-down monster emitting dark mist, then casually set another spell/trap card.

"Then, I set two more cards and end my turn."

"Aaaah—" Xiao Liu opened its mouth, emitting a cry that sounded like a struggle, yet oddly resembled an ancient, peculiar melody.

As its voice echoed, the entire shattered dimension trembled violently; the spirits entangled by its puppet strings roared in fury, while the already mechanized and puppet-controlled humans screamed in agony, as if their life force was being drained.

"Xiao Liu! This—Lord Tiancheng!"

Seeing it begin absorbing human life, despite his deep resentment toward them, Bai Jing, bound by knightly honor, could not bear to let its "healer" commit such an act—but even more unbearable was Xiao Liu's agonized state.

"Quiet down—this is awful. I can't stand it," Tierra, annoyed by its distress, snapped. "Honestly, you're nothing like him—not just Tiancheng Guang, you're nothing like the real Bai Jing…"

She looked deeply displeased.

Even though Tiancheng Guang would soon defeat Xiao Liu and grant her massive Shadow-Ignited power, she remained deeply dissatisfied.

"Do you really think Tiancheng Guang will lose?"

"No, that's not what I meant!" Bai Jing hurriedly said. "I believe in Lord Tiancheng! He will surely save Xiao Liu!"

"Then watch closely—or—" Tierra turned her emerald eyes toward Tiancheng Guang; a flash of terrifying red light passed through them, piercing his body and directly seeing Bai Jing's soul, silencing it instantly. "Make up your mind!"

Chapter Two, please vote~

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(End of Chapter)