Now, both Yun Jin and Shenhe had obtained their decks! That meant—the Action Duel was about to begin!
For both Yun Jin and Shenhe, this was their first time on the Duel Stage, yet neither seemed nervous. Yun Jin was used to performing before an audience, so dueling in front of others didn't faze her in the slightest. As for Shenhe—bound by the Red Rope for so many years—she barely experienced nervousness at all.
Both were calm. Yet beneath that calm lay a faint excitement. What kind of field would this Action Duel take place on?
...
Seeing that Yun Jin and Shenhe were ready to take the stage, Luya called out in their direction:
"Since you're both prepared—then hurry up and start the duel!"
The two followed Luya's instructions and walked to opposite ends of the Duel Stage.
"It's finally starting!"
"I'm so curious... what will the Action Duel Field look like?"
"I think..."
"It'll probably be like the ones in Yu-Gi-Oh, right?"
"I don't know, but I'm so hyped!!!"
"What kind of field will it be?!"
"I can't wait to see!"
"Then let's watch carefully~"
...
Once Yun Jin and Shenhe stood at their respective sides, Luya activated the Action Duel Field.
The platform trembled once—then began to shake intensely. And then, the Duel Field started changing continuously!
[Dihua Marsh]
[Stormterror's Lair]
[Fontaine's Rainforest]
[Yaoguang Shoal]
[Guyun Stone Forest
[The Chasm]...
Finally, the scene froze—the transformation stopped.
[Tianheng Mountains]
The Duel Field had now turned into the Tianheng Mountains. Towering peaks rose up around them, the entire Action Duel Stage transformed into a faithful recreation of that mountain range.
The Tianheng Mountains lay west of Liyue Harbor, serving as a natural barrier against invasion. Throughout history, this mountain range had stood as Liyue's wall of defense, witnessing countless wars. Ruins of walls, fortresses, and battlements could still be seen scattered among the cliffs. It was said that Liyue's earliest mining industry also began here.
"Wow! It's the Tianheng Mountains?!"
"The rocks look so real!"
"Wait… can we actually step on those stones?!"
"This is incredible!!!"
"I see it!!"
"There's a card under that rock!!"
"I wonder what effect it has..."
"There really is one!"
"Hey, good eyes there!"
"Hehe~~"
Seeing all this, Charlotte couldn't hold it together anymore. She slumped right down onto the ground. Today had simply been too much for her to take in. If anyone else had written these events in The Steambird, she wouldn't have believed it! But everything unfolding before her eyes—she had seen it herself. All she could do now was frantically take photos and document everything, so she could write a proper news article later.
As Shenhe looked around the Tianheng Mountains Field, her gaze fell upon a dilapidated village not far ahead. A wave of nostalgia welled up in her heart—for this was where her hometown once lay.
Having lived in the mountains for over a decade of training, even a heart as tranquil as hers could not help but stir. Once, on a whim one night, she had descended the mountain alone and returned to her old home—the small ruined village nestled within the Tianheng range.
She hadn't even known whether she still carried affection for her family or her past. It had simply been an instinctive yearning—to see the house of her childhood once more and to find out what kind of life her stubborn father now led.
Yet when Shenhe returned, she learned from the neighbors that her father had passed away several years prior. The old house she'd lived in as a child had long been dismantled and sold off. At that moment, every trace of her past was gone—scattered to the wind and rain.
She didn't care about the curious stares, nor did she answer anyone's questions. She simply stood in silence, listening to the fleeting roar within her heart. Was it hatred, delusion... or release? In that instant, it felt like everything—and nothing at all.
Only a still, ancient well remained within her heart. A well that had long since dried up, even the surface that once rippled now gone. Shenhe had stood there for a long time before finally turning away under the puzzled gazes of the villagers. Each step she took was slow and steady; she never looked back.
In the end, she left her home in the Tianheng Mountains—and never returned.
She hadn't expected that this duel would take place here—and that the same village would appear before her again. Could this be... fate?
...
Yun Jin, too, looked toward the Tianheng Mountains. She recalled that the opera The Divine Damsel of Devastation was said to have taken place in a village here. Perhaps... the story of The Divine Damsel of Devastation could reveal some clues hidden in this duel field!
The script told of a young girl who defeated a demon and became a hero. This legend had originated right here in the Tianheng Mountains.
According to the tale, there was once a prosperous village. Within it lived a deeply devoted couple. One day, a terrifying monster appeared. The wife went out to gather herbs—but was captured by the creature. The husband, devastated, soon descended into madness.
The monster arrogantly told the villagers:
"If you wish to live—then offer me your children as tribute!"
The villagers, terrified by the creature's power, had no choice but to comply. Just as they were deciding whose child would be sacrificed, a young girl stepped forward of her own accord. She was willing to be the offering... but hidden within her robes was a sacred exorcist sword. Feigning fear, she entered the monster's lair—then struck boldly!
After a fierce battle, she slew the monster. Later, because of her exceptional potential, she was taken in by an adeptus, becoming part of the immortal realm—a tale sung for generations.
But alas... as mortal and immortal paths are forever apart, the divine maiden of the story was never again able to return to the mortal world. That was the ending of The Divine Damsel of Devastation.
Yet Yun Jin had always felt the ending was incomplete—as if something vital was missing. Looking at the scattered cards across the field, Yun Jin sensed that perhaps they held some hidden truth!
With that thought, excitement welled up within her. She leapt onto the flat terrain of the Tianheng Mountains, ready to begin the duel!
Both Yun Jin and Shenhe were now set.
And so—the duel began!
"Duel!"
"Duel!"
As their voices rang out, the massive screen behind the Duel Field automatically began determining turn order—
[First Turn: Yun Jin]
[Second Turn: Shenhe]
...
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