"I Tribute Jeanne d'Arc to destroy all cards on the field!" Jalter activated Jeanne's effect without hesitation.
Reluctantly, Jeanne drew her sword. Flames erupted from the blade, quickly engulfing her. The crimson lotus of destruction bloomed once more.
"O Lord, I commit this body to you—"
Just before the flames could consume every card on the field, Caules, standing before Jiang You, made his decision and shouted, "Mr. Cabik, tell them! A Servant who can use the Second Magic has been summoned!"
"The Second Magic?"
Cabik's intention to bid farewell to his brother was completely overshadowed by this explosive news. He turned to stare at Jiang You. This young, black-haired Servant can actually use the Second Magic? "But the Wizard Marshal is currently..."
"No time to explain! This is the truth! The Clock Tower must be informed! The situation is extremely serious!" Caules shouted, throwing caution to the wind. Passing a message right in front of the subject himself was practically suicide.
"I understand. It seems we'll have to ask the Wizard Marshal to intervene." Cabik nodded, firmly memorizing Jiang You's appearance. If he truly could use the Second Magic, Kaleidoscope would certainly not stand idly by.
In the next instant, all cards on the field were wiped clean.
Then, Caules looked at Jiang You with a mixture of fear and resolve. He knew that his actions were a direct challenge to the Servant. He had no idea how long Fran could hold him off, but to protect the future of humanity, he had no regrets.
"Let's set aside whether your conclusion is even correct," Jiang You said, exasperated, as he looked at the boy who seemed prepared to die a martyr's death. Beside him, Fran had already assumed a combat stance.
"Didn't I tell you before that we're not here to destroy the world? What a pain... Still, if that Old Man of the Jewels shows up, I'd actually be pretty happy. He's a hard man to meet."
Caules let out a slight sigh of relief. It was impossible to trust Jiang You completely, but at least he was safe for now. "So you really do know the Wizard Marshal."
"I don't... Ah, whatever. Just assume I do." Jiang You was still hoping to learn how to travel between parallel worlds from the Old Man of the Jewels. Who knew? It might even unlock a new Script.
This interruption didn't affect the Duel.
"Isn't this still just mutual destruction?" Deimlet glanced at Jalter's backrow. Her powerful card was gone, and while his own countermeasure had been cleared, trading it for such a strong card wasn't a bad deal.
"Your vision is as narrow as ever!" Jalter laughed. "I activate the effect of Banner of Revenge! When this card is destroyed by a card effect, I can Special Summon one Jeanne d'Arc from my Deck! The Jeanne d'Arc summoned by this effect gains 500 Attack Power!"
Jalter returned to the field.
[Jeanne d'Arc Alter] Attack Power 2500 → 3000
"Now, I enter the Battle Phase! And I attack!"
Jalter charged forward, brandishing her banner. She skewered Deimlet through the chest as if he were a piece of meat on a spit.
Deimlet's LP: 4000 → 1000
"Guaaah!"
Deimlet howled in agony. The damage from 3000 Attack Power far exceeded his expectations. As if to add insult to injury, Jalter kicked him off her spear. He tumbled across the ground several times before struggling back to his feet.
"Tch, what a troublesome opponent. But I still have a chance."
Deimlet touched his non-existent wound. The Duel didn't inflict physical harm, but the pain was inescapable.
"Next turn, I'll finish you!"
"Who said you'd get a next turn?"
Jalter shook her head, contemptuously pointing her thumb downward.
"Impossible! Your attack is over! It's my turn next!"
Deimlet stared nervously at the last card in his opponent's hand. Is it direct damage? If it was, he had a card in his Graveyard that could counter it. He'd be fine.
"I activate the card Elixir of Youth! This card allows me to target one monster on the field and Special Summon its Lily form from my Deck to my side of the field! I choose Jeanne d'Arc Alter!"
Jalter had no idea where this card came from. It looked like it should be some Servant's Noble Phantasm. How could Jeanne possibly be connected to something like this? But as long as it led to victory, she didn't care.
"Come forth, Jeanne Lily!"
As the card's effect resolved, the clear chime of bells echoed from the sky, followed by a gentle flurry of crystalline snowflakes.
"Christmas carols?"
Caules couldn't comprehend it. How had Jeanne d'Arc been fused with Santa Claus now?
[Jeanne Lily]Lancer / 4-Star / Attack Power 2000
"Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily Lancer Christmas, solemnly responding to the summons and reporting for duty! Eh? What kind of Summoning Ritual is this? And it's not even Christmas!"
The tiny Jeanne descended from the sky, riding a sleigh.
Jiang You felt an intensely scorching gaze pierce through him from behind. Without turning, he knew it was a certain Beast whose maternal instincts were overflowing. She was slightly more restrained than Minamoto no Raikou, but their essence was the same.
"Is that me as a child?"
Jalter searched her memories but found only those of the original Jeanne. Logically, any summoned Jeanne should have been her "white" self. Another non-existent period of my life has been added.
"And what's with this ridiculously stupid outfit? It's winter and summer all at once."
"Ah, my grown-up self."
Jailter turned to look at Jalter, her expression filled with disdain. "Let me make this clear: I will absolutely—absolutely never—turn into you. You look like some delinquent biker gang leader. I see no future in that at all."
"What do you mean, 'no future'?! You're supposed to be me as a child!"
Seeing her younger self give her a disdainful look, Jalter flew into a rage again.
"That's wrong! I don't even have a childhood! So what kind of future do you want? To be tied to a cross and roasted alive?"
"While it's strange to talk about 'future' with something like a Heroic Spirit, is it really okay for you to make dark jokes about yourself like that?"
Jiang You nearly burst out laughing as he saw the dangerous smile on Jeanne's face.
"What nonsense are you spouting?! That's not what I meant at all! My original self was pure, dignified, and utterly lovable... my ideal image!"
Jailter gazed with hopeful eyes at the smiling(?), Madonna-like Jeanne.
"But someone like you... anyone would find you detestable!"
"You little brat!!!"
Jalter decided she never wanted to see her younger self again. "You! Attack! You and that guy over there—just disappear from my sight!!"
The 2000 Attack Power completely wiped out Deimlet's remaining Life Points.
Deimlet LP: 1000 → 0!
Jalter wins.
"Next time, let's just settle this with a brawl."
Jiang You felt that this Duel's performance was even worse than Illya's basic starter deck.