Tierra is not a benevolent God. Seeing other humans about to have their souls taken by Spirits, then stepping in to save them— that's not something she'd do in her idle time.
The only reason why she intercepted the Death Card is that she discovered it could serve perfectly as base material for her "components", to create a part of her body.
Such an opportunity doesn't come by often.
Copy cards like the Phantasm, though powerful, bear too many marks of the Phantasm.
The Shaddoll Series, though her own creation, are more artifacts and aren't highly related.
However, a card like the Death Card, which conceptually aligns with her "Authority" and is inherently not a supernormal Spirit, just a card of a Normal Monster, is an incredibly suitable base material.
Exactly.
As the Goddess of Rebirth, what Tierra governs is precisely the cycle of life and death of all things.
"Creating life" is just an outward expression of her Authority.
In any case, this card can be used as a component of her body.
Moreover, it doesn't matter what the Death Spirit thinks, after all, it's a genuine Spirit that devours the soul of its user, even Tenjo Hikari wouldn't stop her.
Then what's the remaining issue?
To persuade Tenjo Hikari to help her create the next body component.
"Ashtaroth, huh..."
The fourth Infernoid, representing the point corresponding to "Unease" and "Compassion".
It's not yet the fifth one, so the danger level isn't that high.
"So how will you do it?" Tenjo Hikari thought for a moment and didn't refuse.
Tierra chuckled.
She indeed has a plan.
Recently, through Lucifer, she's gathered a lot of information about the volcanoes, and as long as she gains more power, she can directly call forth the Spirit from the card via its inverse link with the Spirit World.
Just like how Midrash once found its creator, forcing a connection with a real "Nephilim" Spirit.
This is something only she could achieve, and only within this Volcanic Zone.
Also, it's only by utilizing the presence of the Wave of Light that such an opportunity arises.
Listening to her plan, Tenjo Hikari pondered for a bit.
He could endure the headache and use this card; after all, it's just a headache, it's not life-threatening.
But Tenjo Hikari thought this was something worth trying.
Because he has always wanted to find the coordinates of the DT Spirit World, and if successful, he could use this method to confirm its existence.
At that time, collecting the needed cards for his Deck would be much simpler than now.
From all aspects, this was doable, so Tenjo Hikari quickly agreed to her plan and promptly prepared the materials. After conducting two tries using the pre-prepared experimental equipment, he began the grand creation.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. The third time creating an "Infernoid" exceeded Tenjo Hikari's expectations — perhaps unknowingly, his synergy with the Infernoid Deck had greatly improved, making the creation of Ashtaroth go very smoothly.
After finishing, Tierra enthusiastically rubbed against the demon with a dragon-headed right hand. For her, though still just "a small part" of the body, it had already reached "one-third" of the card quantity she required, naturally filling her with excitement.
Seeing this, it seemed there was no need to wait a few hundred years; perhaps she'd be revived in just over a decade.
After completing these matters, Tenjo Hikari temporarily left the site, heading to a secluded spot in the Volcanic Zone to place the Nephilim card, allowing Tierra to control it.
Tierra closed her eyes, summoning Lucifer. Blue flames burned within the cave, igniting the smoke-filled light curtain.
As the light curtain was about to burn out, Tenjo Hikari heard a "click, click" sound.
Buzz————
A holy music chimed.
The figure of Nephilim once again appeared in the world, albeit with a stature much more petite compared to the towering Nephilim summoned by the Light Society, approximately only five to six people tall.
"Haha, how was it, Tenjo Hikari, successful, right?" Tierra laughed.
She is a Goddess!
How could a plan she conceived ever fail?
Tenjo Hikari nodded and had the Alchemist record the data.
"Why summon me to this place—" the Nephilim Spirit inquired.
It was somewhat different from the Midrash Spirit Tenjo Hikari first encountered—much more fluent in speech, although still cold and mechanical in tone.
"Haha, this guy needs your help, so hurry on and travel with him," Tierra pointed at Tenjo Hikari.
Nephilim's eyes opened, yellow light scanning Tenjo Hikari, and after a sweep, it mechanically replied, "Target, human, Tenjo Hikari, exceedingly remarkable, has gained much recognition from Spirits."
No idea where it got the information from.
"Following such a human warrior is not impossible." It slowly raised its hand, with purple Puppet Strings dancing everywhere, "but."
But?
Both Tenjo Hikari and Tierra were puzzled.
Nephilim slowly turned its head, eyes directed at Tierra, opening its mouth to say, "Against evil Spirits that took the leader's body, we shall forever oppose them, insisting on revenge and will never abandon it."
Tenjo Hikari glanced at Tierra sideways.
After Midrash came to the Human World, Tierra discovered Tenjo Hikari, who had the potential to revive her, and immediately seized Midrash's body to come to the Human World.
Afterward, she kicked Midrash's Spirit back to their world and hasn't concerned herself with it since.
Yet—
Clearly, for the Shaddoll Race's Duel Monster Spirits, such matters couldn't just be brushed aside.
"Revolt! Revolt!" Tierra heard Nephilim's words, irritated beyond when being compared to the Three Phantasm by Akaba Leo, furiously kicking in the air.
She rarely adds physical action even in anger.
"Protecting the leader's dignity is a warrior's duty!" Nephilim said mechanically.
Tierra couldn't hold back; she clenched her fist, reached out, and nearly all the Puppet Strings on Nephilim's body were seized from its control in an instant, binding her like a cocoon. All the while, she grumbled in dissatisfaction: "Just a temporary contraption I made, daring to talk back—"
In terms of power, even without being restrained, Nephilim was entirely overpowered by Tierra, yet even so, Nephilim remained firmly unyielding.
"Tierra, it is a Spirit. It's not the Nephilim in your memories."
Tierra's movement halted.
She seemed slightly dazed.
Indeed—
She attempted these endeavors, summoning the Nephilim Spirit, just to glimpse the vistas of the past, right?
But...
Ultimately, they are not the same entities.
Just as the Crystal wasn't the Crystal but a Spirit of it.
Thinking this, she sighed, releasing her grip, casting a glance at Tenjo Hikari, pouting slightly.
"Hey, Nephilim."
Nephilim's body slowly reassembled, then stared at Tierra.
It clearly understood that on a physical level, it was no match for Tierra.
"If so, then how about abiding by the Spirit's rules? How does that sound?" Tierra casually picked up Tenjo Hikari's idle Duel Disk.
Nephilim hesitated momentarily, then spoke once more: "To avenge the leader—"
Upon saying this, the Puppet Strings on its body began to dance, eventually transforming into a purple Duel Disk, followed by a Deck emerging on the Disk.
"You want a Duel?" Tenjo Hikari chuckled.
"What, not allowed!?" Tierra clicked her tongue again, raising her right hand, a ball of blue flame rising in her palm and then transforming into a Deck, which she inserted into Tenjo Hikari's Duel Disk.
Then, imitating Tenjo Hikari, she shouted: "Duel!"
El Shaddoll Construct, LP: 4000.
Tierra, LP: 4000.