Seeing that Shinji Matou had successfully provoked Medea, Hundred Faces tossed the golden coin.
"Both duelists are burning with resolve! Let the Duel begin!"
The coin spun through the air and landed, granting Medea the first move.
The Duel Space materialized.
Medea: 4000 Life Points
Shinji Matou: 4000 Life Points
"Very well, I'll make the first move!"
Medea drew five cards from her Deck and instantly fell silent. The only Servants in her hand were herself and her former confidante, Atalante.
After a long moment of hesitation, Medea began her turn. As a member of the Argo, she knew how to forcibly summon other crew members' Servant Cards: "First, I Normal Summon myself."
Medea - Attack Power: 1800
"Next, I activate the Spell Card [ Journey to Find the Golden Fleece ]. I add one [ Jason ] or [ Medea ] card from my Deck to my hand. If there are other [ Argo ] servants on the field, I can place an [ Argo ] servant card from my Deck on top of the Deck..."
"Jason's effect allows him to be Special Summoned when a corresponding card is on the field!"
Jason - Defense Power: 1500
Medea - Attack Power: 1800 → 2300
"Is she going to summon Hercules?" Shinji Matou knew that Hercules was Jason's trump card.
"Medea's effect grants her a Magic Counter from the previous Spell Card. By removing this counter, I can retrieve a Trap Card from my Deck and add it to my hand."
"Then I'll set two cards face-down in my back row and end my turn."
"Is this all a mage from the Age of Gods can do?"
This was the most perfunctory opening Shinji had ever witnessed. Even the other mages' strategies were more impressive than Medea's.
"Why don't you summon Hercules? Don't you want to?"
"Shut up!" Medea snapped, kicking Jason beside her. She was convinced her terrible hand was his fault.
"My turn. Draw!"
Shinji Matou didn't know the full extent of Medea's abilities, but judging by how she gained Magic Counters each time she activated a Spell Card, her advantage clearly grew with each spell she cast.
If possible, I need to finish this quickly or find a way to steal her cards.
"I activate the Field Spell Card [ Insect Magecraft Workshop ]! I Special Summon an [ Engraving Worm ] from my deck!"
[ Engraving Worm ]: Attack Power 500
"Just as I expected—you'd pull out something disgusting like that!"
Medea flipped over her face-down card, having already planned her countermeasure.
"I activate [ Rule Breaker ]! I seize control of your [ Engraving Worm ]!"
Medea was determined to use any means necessary, even such a repulsive card, as long as it gave her an advantage.
At the same time, Medea's Magic Counter count reached two.
"So, a similar effect to the [ Engraving Worm ], huh?"
Shinji Matou watched as Medea took his monster to her field, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. Only I get to bully others; no one else is allowed to bully me! "But no matter! I activate the effect of Makiri Zolgen, sending myself to the Graveyard to add the Ritual Spell Card 'Five Hundred Years of Obsession' to my hand!"
"Now, the effect of 'Five Hundred Years of Obsession'! I send two cards from my Deck to the Graveyard to Ritual Summon Matou Zouken!"
Matou Zouken - Attack Power: 1800
A dense swarm of insects coalesced into a withered old man, cackling hideously.
"Next, the Spell Card 'Awakened Will'! I Special Summon a Master Servant from my Deck! The Servant Special Summoned by this card is automatically destroyed at the end of the turn. I choose to summon Makiri Zolgen!"
Simultaneously, Medea's Magic Counter reached 4.
Makiri Zolgen - Attack Power: 1800
"He's been summoned again? Seeing my future self from three hundred years ago is truly revolting."
Makiri glared at his future self with utter disdain, refusing to acknowledge any connection to this twisted mockery.
"Heh heh heh..."
In this timeline, Zouken Matou was oblivious to his thoughts, simply smiling.
"The effect of [ Makiri Zolgen ] activates! When it's Special Summoned successfully, I gain control of one 2-star or lower Servant on your opponent's field. Naturally, I'll be taking my [ Monster ]—the [ Engraving Worm ]!"
The Engraving Worm returned to Shinji Matou's field.
"Eek! I don't want that thing touching me! Medea, please take care of it!" Jason exclaimed, recoiling from the Engraving Worm's ominous wriggling. He even added, "Who would want a useless piece of trash like you anyway?!"
Medea knew Jason's effect was useless in a deck not based on the [ Argo ]. It was clear the worm was heading straight for her, and she couldn't allow it to take effect. "We can't let that dangerous thing activate! I activate Medea's effect! By removing two Magic Counters, I destroy the [ Engraving Worm ]!"
A Magic Bullet shattered the Engraving Worm. Regardless of which card Shinji had attempted to seize control of, Medea refused to allow it.
"What a pity," Zouken sighed. "I was really looking forward to seeing your effect in action."
Shinji Matou grinned maliciously, genuinely curious. Everyone knew the effects of Jason's card, but Medea's card hadn't been revealed before the live stream.
"Now that things have come to this, it's time for the battle phase!"
"First, Makiri Zolgen attacks! Destroy Jason!"
Makiri easily defeated the half-baked Jason. Without Jason's buff, Medea's attack power reverted to its original value.
Medea: Attack Power 2300 → 1800
"Next, Zouken Matou attacks Medea!"
"An Age of Gods Magus with the same stats as this old man? Truly an honor, hehehe."
Zouken Matou smirked sinisterly at Medea. Their equal attack power meant both cards would be destroyed simultaneously—precisely the outcome Shinji desired.
"Zouken Matou's effect activates! Sacrifice Makiri Zolgen as a substitute! This attack cannot be destroyed in battle!"
Shattered by Medea's Magic Bullet, Zouken Matou reformed into human shape, stubbornly clinging to life.
"Since [ Makiri Zolgen ] will be destroyed at the end of the turn anyway, this is a stroke of luck for me. Well done, Shinji."
Throughout the turn, Zouken Matou showered Shinji Matou with praise.
"Of course!" Shinji puffed out his chest, clearly enjoying the attention. He wiped his nose with a smug grin.
"I'll set a face-down card in my back row and end my turn. Your move!"
"Before you end, I'll activate my Continuous Trap Card, [ Argonaut Recruitment ]! During my draw phase, if I draw an [ Argo ] servant card, I can Special Summon it directly and draw another card! The card I placed on top of my deck earlier was... [ Hercules ]!"
"Come forth, [ Hercules ]! Jason admires you so much—show him your true power!"
"My turn. Draw!" Medea examined the card she had drawn.
"...????"