The duel begins, both sides draw cards, Nephilim draws cards in a standard manner, totaling five.
And on the opposite side, Tierra snapped her fingers again.
Blue invisible flames rose from the deck, and five cards, wrapped in flames, formed a long fiery serpent that flew into the air, then arranged in a row in front of her.
This allowed Tenjo Hikari to see her hand cards without getting too close.
Wow.
This hand, well, isn't bad at all.
Tenjo Hikari glanced, nodding continuously.
"My turn, draw." Nephilim drew a card from the deck, "Normal Summon, Shaddoll Falco."
The purple mechanical falcon appeared on the field under its control.
Shaddoll Falco, LV 2, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 600.
"Equip Spell Card, Nephe Shaddoll Fusion." Immediately, it took out a Spell Card from its hand and placed it on the Duel Disk woven from threads.
The card image depicted the scene where Midrash was absorbed into particles.
"This card can be equipped to Shaddoll Monsters. Equip to Falco."
"Then, activate its two effects consecutively."
It extended its right hand with two fingers: "The first effect, declare an attribute, change the attribute of the equipped monster, declare, Light.
The second effect, use the monsters in hand and on the field, including the equipped monster, as Fusion Material, for the Fusion Summon of a Shaddoll Monster."
"I send Shaddoll Squamata from my hand and Shaddoll Falco on the field to the graveyard, Fusion Summon—myself."
A classic self-summoning.
Nephilim's figure, pulled by puppet strings, was drawn forward from the Duelist's position.
El Shaddoll Construct, LV 8, Light Attribute, Fairy-Type, ATK 2800.
"Nephilim..."
Tierra looked up at Nephilim, who appeared on the battlefield, silently gazing.
"My effect, Falco's effect, Squamata's effect activate."
"We all possess special abilities that can activate effects when sent to the graveyard." This time, it raised three fingers, "Squamata's effect, send a Shaddoll Card other than Squamata from the deck to the graveyard. I choose, Shaddoll Core.
Falco receives the effect, Special Summon in face-down Defense Position on the field.
And my special ability—when I appear on the field. I can send a Shaddoll Card from the deck to the graveyard, I choose, El Shaddoll Fusion."
She operated the cards accordingly.
The purple gemstone was raised from the graveyard by puppet strings, fell beside it, and transformed into a face-down card, while two cards from the deck were sent to the graveyard.
"Still not done." Nephilim didn't stop.
It swung its left hand forward: "Activate the effect of the Shaddoll Core sent to the graveyard, when this card is sent to the graveyard, retrieve a Shaddoll Spell or Trap Card from the graveyard.
Retrieve, El Shaddoll Fusion."
Tenjo Hikari stroked his chin.
A textbook classic opening.
Yet through this back and forth, the cards are hardly consumed, which is the hallmark of Shaddolls.
"Set a card, end turn."
Thus, there's no need to consider what the Set Card is.
Obviously, it's the Quick-Play Spell, El Shaddoll Fusion.
Tierra looked at Nephilim for a good while.
"El Shaddoll Fusion..." Tierra murmured the card's name.
"Do you know what that card represents?"
"This is our Shaddoll Race's prideful Spell Card, the result of our warriors' training." Nephilim did not hide information, speaking boldly, "Only advanced warriors have the chance to gain such powerful cards through training.
An unknown spirit, no matter where you come from, stealing the face of our leader is a crime, I will not show mercy."
Tierra wasn't angered by the words about showing mercy; she shook her head and continued to ask, "Have you never wondered who that 'God' is?"
"Why is it called 'El Shaddoll'? Have you never thought about it?"
That is a good question.
Because this question took Nephilim aback.
The... name of the card?
Does that have any meaning?
Tierra lowered her head, gently rubbed her brow.
"Foolish mortal spirit, useless broken machinery." Tierra muttered quietly.
As a Goddess of Rebirth, having once created an entire world ecosystem as a True God, Tierra regards the beings of the mortal realm without any real "emotion." In fact, she has a strong desire to destroy all life and reset the cycle.
However—
Shaddoll is her handiwork.
This "virus," capable of infecting other undead and bringing them back to life, was meticulously crafted by her.
When the world drastically changed, when she realized that even the creatures she hated and resented had completely vanished, with no stories remaining, only "cards" struggling to preserve a fragment of words, she naturally felt "alone."
After all, she is a God.
She can choose to ignore these feelings, not care about these matters.
But when one familiar yet different existence after another bears her familiar guise, doing things not aligned with her impressions, she finds it absurd and uncomfortable.
However...
Due to the issue with Crystal, she can now accept it.
But even so, she is still somewhat dazed.
She looked toward her hand cards.
Originally, she helped Tenjo Hikari search for "DT Spirit World" with the intent to have Tenjo Hikari assist in creating more body components, but now, suddenly, she has a new idea.
No—
Rather to say.
Her Godly "sense of duty" has surfaced once again.
Just like when Sofia awakened, discovered the ground filled with life and nature unaligned with her forecasts, so she had to restart the ecosystem.
When she found out that "DT Spirit World" might be entirely different from what she imagined, her instincts told her she couldn't just idly pretend she hadn't seen it.
Since the world has already transformed.
Since "swords and shields" are no longer "mainstream."
Then she, as the Goddess of Rebirth, must also make different changes.
Only—
Never changing is her existence, her philosophy.
Indeed, concerning the current situation, these spirits are indeed completely different from what she remembers.
However, these spirits are not entirely unrelated to her!
No matter what, these spirits are life birthed from legends, born from her stories, how could they not be related to her?
"I've decided, Tenjo Hikari, from now on, you'll accompany me in the DT Spirit Realm, to see the prestige of those Spirit Race leaders!" She declared this.
Tenjo Hikari didn't know what Tierra was thinking, but since she said it, Tenjo Hikari didn't mind.
After all, it's not him doing it.
Moreover, this way he can also collect cards, and save effort, while simultaneously enhancing Tierra's practical combat skills, a triple win.
"Draw." Tierra lightly waved her right hand, and the card automatically flew out from the deck, floating in the air.
The opponent is a warrior from some Spirit World tribe, at the very least a "Guard."
According to Tierra's calculations, in terms of Spirit Level, it should be somewhat comparable to Crystal—maybe even stronger.
LV 7 Spirit, stronger than most spirits.
Facing such a spirit as the first dueling opponent, honestly, she inexplicably feels a bit pressured.
After all, she truly doesn't understand dueling much.
She glanced at Tenjo Hikari.
Hmm...
Then she shook her head.
At this moment, she couldn't ask Tenjo Hikari.