Mordred, Artoria alter, Melusine, Frankenstein, and Little Jack had been waiting here for a long time.
"Regarding tonight's battle, everyone must give their all. Frankenstein, Mordred, and Little Jack—you three will move together with Jeanne and her group."
"Artoria alter, Melusine, the two of you hold your fire for now. Wait until I decide to turn against Shirou Kotomine before you make your move!"
Haruka Kasugano organized tonight's operations with methodical precision. Just then, a graceful figure crawled over.
"Master~! Come and hold me~!"
Celeike, like a cute little kitten, wiggled her body as she pressed against him, a dizzying, blurred expression of intoxication on her face. This sight left everyone stunned.
Before anyone could react, Reika Rikudou suddenly appeared behind Celeike, grabbed her, and snapped, "Get back with me!" She then proceeded to drag Celeike away like a sack of grain.
Haruka Kasugano scratched his head and smiled. "Really sorry for the trouble."
Reika turned back and gave a small smile. "It's no trouble... it's what I should do. You're the one who let me live with dignity, feeling like a normal person... that's even more important than Jack saving me. I'll be waiting for your return~!"
Reika gave her broad, soft chest a slight jiggle and winked at Haruka Kasugano.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for changing Reika Rikudou's inner self and granting her the dignity to live. She is thoroughly grateful to the Host. 'Leaping the Wall' rating has reached 100!]
[Completion reward: Host is granted the one-time Noble Phantasm 'The Hollow Tree of Flickering Light EX'!]
Description: Opens a door to a heterogeneous world. Because the key is oneself, the target is bound by the Host's personal cognition.
Huh? Reika Rikudou's rating was only B+... even with the mission reward and the remaining 40% rating combined, getting an EX-level one-time Noble Phantasm seems a bit much. Oh well, maybe the system just thinks this Noble Phantasm isn't that powerful.
Reika dragged the "feverish" Celeike away. Haruka Kasugano turned to the other girls. "Any other questions?"
All the girls shook their heads. Immediately after, they boarded the planes with Haruka Kasugano. Before takeoff, Fiore said to Gordes, "Uncle, I'm leaving everything at home to you!"
Gordes put on a classic tsundere act. "Ahem, well... make sure you come back safely!"
"Mhm, and I'm leaving them in your care too~!" Fiore smiled.
Gordes glanced at the homunculi nearby and grumbled, "It's no use asking me... they'll live on their own!"
Toole glanced at him and said, "Don't worry, he's just tsundere on the surface; he's actually quite kind-hearted inside."
"You, you, you..." Gordes was beyond embarrassed.
"Exactly~!" Althea added with a laugh. Gordes was too flustered to speak.
"Hahaha~!" Everyone burst into laughter. It was a rare moment of lightheartedness before the final showdown.
The Servants and Masters boarded their planes, with Artoria alter sneaking on board. Astolfo summoned his Hippogriff, and Haruka Kasugano hopped on with him. Jeanne stood atop her plane and shouted, "Let us meet at the Hanging Gardens!"
"Haruka Kasugano, remember, you cannot use those black Command Spells! Or else... well, just don't use them!"
"Got it!" Haruka Kasugano replied.
With that, Astolfo commanded the Hippogriff to take flight, and the other planes followed suit.
---------
At the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Due to its massive size, it hadn't managed to leave Romania after several days of flight, allowing the Black Faction's planes to catch up in just an hour.
"They are here!" Semiramis cried out. "We must not let them interfere with Shirou's plan..."
Shakespeare watched and couldn't help but laugh. "Her Majesty's love is truly a wondrous thing~!"
"Shut up!" Semiramis glared at him. Shakespeare scurried away in fright. Semiramis returned to her clairvoyant vision. "Those fools actually used twenty planes for a human-wave tactic... Do they dare look down on my Hanging Gardens so much?"
With a wave of her jade hand, the eleven stone tablets of the Hanging Gardens instantly fired light cannons that blotted out the sun. At the same time, Achilles charged out in his chariot, and Atalante unleashed her Noble Phantasm toward the enemy fleet.
Seeing this, Astolfo excitedly raised his magic book and shouted, "Finally, it's my turn to shine!"
-----------
Riding the Hippogriff, Astolfo led the planes forward. Facing the thousands of light cannons from the Hanging Gardens, he fearlessly raised his magic book and began to chant. Tonight was the New Moon; the sanity he had once lost had completely returned. Astolfo remembered everything.
"My heart trembles with fear on this moonless night, but even so, I shall not retreat!" With firm conviction, he released the soul-shaking incantation:
—[Casseur de Logistille (Magic-Decoding Almanac)]!!!
Upon the release of its True Name, the pages of the magic book shattered, and countless slips of paper swirled around Astolfo like a blizzard, forming an impenetrable defense that successfully nullified the Hanging Gardens' magical attacks. This miraculous ability allowed for the decoding of any form of magecraft. Consequently, the light cannons were all easily brushed aside.
"What?! How is that possible?" Semiramis was filled with shock. She had easily defeated Astolfo once before, yet now he displayed such overwhelming power and a stunning treasure.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gripping his lance, and with the power of the almanac, Astolfo shattered the stone tablets of the Hanging Gardens one by one. With a final boom, his lance pierced through the garden's walls, and he and Haruka Kasugano leaped inside.
In the depths of the corridor, a slender figure slowly emerged. Karna strolled out leisurely and spoke: "I once made a promise to the Black Saber to have another duel. I heard that the Black Saber now resides within your body—is this true?"
"Uh..." Haruka Kasugano paused, then flashed a cunning smile. "Haha, that's fake! However, I can call out a Saber to fight you."
"Oh? That would be excellent," Karna replied politely.
Haruka Kasugano stepped aside, revealing a massive hole behind him. Astolfo stood there looking lost.
"Look, here she comes," Haruka Kasugano smiled, pointing into the dark void. Karna and Astolfo stared into the deep space outside the hole.
Suddenly, a dull impact echoed. In the blink of an eye, Melusine streaked from the distant horizon like a bolt of lightning. The backdraft from her arrival sent Astolfo tumbling away! Melusine slammed directly into Karna.
BOOM—
Karna was sent flying! Melusine pursued him, unleashing a barrage of blows. Her speed was like lightning; Karna barely had time to react.
Astolfo was completely dazed, stammering, "Was that... Saber's Master? Is she really a Servant? How is she this strong? Where did she come from?"
The battle between Karna and Melusine grew increasingly intense, turning the interior plaza of the Hanging Gardens into a disaster zone. Both were top-tier Servants; their clash was a world-ending catastrophe, turning the surrounding structures into ash.
Haruka Kasugano observed the battle, noticed Melusine hadn't fully taken the upper hand, and turned to Astolfo. "You stay here and help. I'll go check on things elsewhere."
"Huh??? They're so strong, how am I supposed to help?" Astolfo was utterly flabbergasted. He could only grip his lance and stand there foolishly, watching the world-destroying fight with terror while trying to find a gap to intervene.
Haruka Kasugano moved cautiously into the interior. Suddenly, Semiramis appeared before him without warning. Her cold, beautiful face was filled with disgust and disdain. She hissed, "You hateful man... do you intend to sneak in and launch a surprise attack?"
"Hahaha, that's hilarious! Shirou Kotomine and I are allies with a firm pact, aren't we? Or do you think you don't need me to deal with the Ruler?" Haruka Kasugano asked mockingly.
Semiramis' chest heaved with rage, and she bit her lip. "Don't flatter yourself! With Caster's sharp tongue, why would we need someone like you?"
Haruka Kasugano didn't back down, responding with a cold sneer, "Heh, do you really think Shirou Kotomine knows nothing? If so, why would he agree to work with me?"
"..." Semiramis knew the truth. Caster had the ability to counter the Ruler, but that was limited to mental attacks. To truly render the Ruler defenseless, they needed this lecherous man before her...
However... once he launches his offensive against the Ruler... next... hehehe.
Semiramis shifted her expression to one of elegant grace, stepping aside with a charming laugh. "Please, Caster is right inside. Don't worry, this Empress will lead the Ruler right to you~!"
Haruka Kasugano's mouth curled into a cold smile. Hmph! Once I'm done with Jeanne, I'll turn on you lot instantly. Let's see how you keep up that high-and-mighty act then.
"Hehehehe~!" Semiramis laughed behind her hand.
"Jiejiejiejie~!" Haruka Kasugano gave a strange laugh, covering his face.
And so, the two treacherous allies reached a momentary understanding.
Meanwhile, on the other side, escorted by Astolfo earlier, Jeanne had easily leaped from her plane onto the Hanging Gardens. Her progress was unnervingly smooth, encountering no resistance. Even when she ran into the Assassin, Semiramis simply smiled and gestured for her to enter as she pleased.