She Who Sings to Stars - She Who Hungers for Their Fall

Liora stood behind the trees, quietly observing the battle between Lisa and Amaya. Of course, even with Amaya doing her best to hide her face, Liora recognized her instantly.

She never imagined Amaya would enter the Desire Battle. What could she be wishing for? What kind of desire would drive her here? Liora couldn’t find a single clue.

Her gaze shifted to Amaya’s opponent—Lisa. That girl… beneath her elegant appearance lurked the instincts of a predator. Liora was convinced Lisa didn’t join the Desire Battle for any kind of wish. Someone like her was probably here just for the thrill.

Their earlier conversation had already revealed quite a bit about Lisa. She wasn’t someone Liora wanted to turn into an enemy.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Liora asked, seated across from Lisa after Vio had stepped out to the restroom—probably to vent her frustration into a wad of toilet paper.

“There are two things,” Lisa replied, flexing her wrists a little. “First, about the Desire Battle.”

“A smart girl like you must’ve noticed… there’s something fishy going on.”

“Of course,” Liora answered bluntly. She wasn’t about to hide her suspicions. “A secret tournament that can supposedly grant any wish? It screams scam.”

“Just as I thought, Enlightenment Holder,” Lisa said, a knowing smile curling on her lips as she let the title slip out.

Liora wasn’t fazed. She figured Lisa had seen her match against Nicholas.

“And what do you want from me, Chalice Holder?” Liora asked, her eyes narrowing.

“I want you to withdraw from the Desire Battle,” Lisa said, straight to the point—no hesitation.

“No.” Liora replied immediately, without missing a beat.

"That doesn’t sound like you," Liora had added, studying Lisa’s face. The girl laughed, as if delighted by the challenge.

“A friend asked me to pass the message along,” Lisa admitted. When it came to someone like Liora, hiding things would only worsen their relationship.

“Then what do you really want?” Liora asked again.

“Let’s work together, Liora Vernhart,” Lisa said, straight to the point again.

“Work together?” Liora repeated, making sure she’d heard right.

“Mm.” Lisa nodded calmly. “There’s no way I can unravel the secrets of the Desire Battle alone. I need as much help as I can get.”

“And what’s in it for me?” Liora didn’t bite just yet.

“That ties into the second thing I wanted to discuss.”

“Liora, did you know?”

“From what I’ve uncovered so far, there’s a connection between the Desire Battle… and a tragedy from nine years ago.”

Liora’s eyes widened.

Lisa smiled as she saw the change in her expression.

“You’re thinking what I’m thinking,” she said.

“The Desire Battle and the Virtual Death Game—they’re linked.”

"Liora!"

A voice shattered her reverie. Nicholas stood a few paces away, his arms crossed. Since when had he been watching her watch them?

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"Didn’t expect you to spectate," she said flatly.

He shrugged, eyes fixed on the distant battlefield where Amaya’s Everlonging Prayer clashed with Lisa’s Hellrose Dragon. "I intend to see this through to the end."

“Suit yourself.” Liora followed his gaze. The second match was still going strong.

***

“My turn! Draw!” Amaya declared, taking the first move.

“Generate Phase—I generate 1 OP.”

A glowing blue Orb appeared beside her, pulsing softly.

“I pay 1 OP and activate Heaven’s Blessing!”

The Orb shattered into radiant particles of light.

“I add the Fixed Support card Divine Instrument – Harmonious Harmonica to my hand.”

Amaya raised her hand high toward the sky, pointing at the figure soaring above.

“O ceaseless one who prays for miracles—now is the time to grasp them!”

“Guide Call!”

“Ever-Longing Prayer, Elana!”

Answering Amaya’s call, Elana spread her wings and slowly descended, landing gracefully by her side.

A joyful expression bloomed on Elana’s face as she saw Amaya. Amaya, too, felt a powerful yet indescribable bond connecting the two of them—something beyond mere words.

“Let’s fight together, Elana,” Amaya whispered gently.

Elana responded with a silent, heartfelt nod.

“Elana’s effect activates upon being summoned! I reveal one card from my hand and activate one Divine Instrument from it!”

Amaya revealed a card from her hand.

“I reveal the unit card Devoted Deacon, Samuel!”

“I activate Divine Instrument – Harmonious Harmonica from my hand—for free!”

Golden light particles gathered, swirling in a brilliant dance before forming a simple yet ornate harmonica in Elana’s hands, engraved with sacred markings.

Harmonious Harmonica allows me to shuffle any number of cards from my hand back into my deck, then draw the same number.

“I shuffle 3, then draw 3!”

Elana gently raised the harmonica to her lips and began to play a beautiful, serene melody.

“Then, I gain 500 LP for each card drawn by this effect.”

Amaya’s LP: 8,000 → 9,500

“Next, because Devoted Deacon, Samuel was revealed this turn by a card effect, I can Special Summon him for free!”

“And if he’s summoned this way, I gain 500 LP.”

Amaya’s LP: 9,500 → 10,000

“Then, since I gained LP this turn, that triggers the effect of Healing Angel, Aveline in my hand!”

Amaya revealed another card, its glow signaling its activation.

“I Special Summon Aveline, and gain LP equal to the total LP I’ve gained this turn!”

Amaya’s LP: 10,000 → 12,000

“Turn end.”

“Twelve thousand…” Lisa muttered, pausing for a moment as she took in Amaya’s inflated LP.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re already overwhelmed just from seeing my LP so high,” Amaya teased with a smirk, deliberately trying to provoke her.

Lisa let out a soft chuckle at Amaya’s cheap provocation—only to be met with an annoyed glare from her opponent.

“My turn! Draw!”

After adding the card to her hand, Lisa took a quick glance through her hand, gave a small nod, and continued her turn.

“Generate Phase! OP limit increase—I generate 2 OP!”

Two blue orbs materialized beside her, glowing ominously.

“Next…” Lisa extended her hand forward, palm open, as if commanding something to awaken.

“Bloom! O flower that signals the beginning of hell!”

“Guide Call!”

From the sky above, Ashendoom dove down at lightning speed and landed behind Lisa with a thunderous impact, shaking the ground and scattering dust in every direction.

“Roar, Hellrose Dragon, Ashendoom!”

With Lisa’s declaration, Ashendoom let out an earth-shattering roar—shattering the stillness of the night.

Lisa grinned as she locked eyes with Ashendoom. No words were needed—they understood each other completely.

“Let’s tear everything down... until the end arrives.”

“My partner,” Lisa whispered almost inaudibly.

Ashendoom gave no response, only standing silently beside her—fierce and unmoving.

“I pay 2 OP and summon Pyro Dragon, Salamandra!”

Two blue orbs shatter into light particles.

“Then, using its effect—I also summon Hydro Dragon, Undrax!”

“Undrax’s effect activates—I choose one of your followers, and reduce its ATK by 500.”

Lisa pointed toward Samuel. “Devoted Deacon, Samuel.”

At this point in the match, the arena was clearly not in Lisa’s favor.

Salamandra had 1,000 ATK. Ashendoom had 3,000. Undrax had 1,500.

On Amaya’s side: Samuel had 1,800 ATK, Aveline had 800, and Elana boasted 2,500.

Lisa still had Gladius in her hand. With it, she could increase one of her followers' ATK by 1,000—but she held back. It was a trump card best saved for the right moment.

Using it too early would only waste a chance to end the game decisively later.

Not to mention—Lisa didn’t yet have enough OP to activate Ashendoom’s skill.

More importantly, her eyes lingered on Elana.

She needed to be cautious of the Frontier Protocol possessed by Amaya’s Frontier Guide.

Ah… how delightful, Lisa thought. This is why I love Guide Rise.

The outcome is never the same. Every battle ends differently.

And so, she mused—

Oh, angel with pure white wings…

Can you truly rewrite the fate already sealed?

The fate that leads only to your destruction.