Olga tapped her finger rhythmically against a charred rock, the sharp clack-clack-clack echoing in the stillness of the ruined city. Her eyes, narrowed and burning with a mix of suspicion and exhaustion, never left Fujimaru.
"Well?" she prompted, her voice tight. "I'm waiting for that explanation."
"The Magma Elemental... it's a spirit I summoned using a Top Class Item," Fujimaru explained, his tone casual as if he were discussing the weather. He gestured vaguely to the spot where the angel had stood. "As for the Principality Observation he's an angel I summon forth through prayer."
He offered the explanation with a straight face, even though he knew it sounded laughably thin. To a first-class magus like Olga Marie Animusphere, the idea of a "prayer" manifesting a four-winged, high-density mana entity that could stalemate two Heroic Spirits was practically an insult to the laws of thaumaturgy.
Olga's eye twitched. She stopped tapping her finger and stared at him, her expression hovering somewhere between disbelief and a burgeoning headache.
"Prayer?" she repeated flatly. "Are you nuts? You're telling me that while we were being systematically slaughtered by the greatest heroes of human history, you just... prayed? And a mid-tier Divine Spirit decided to clock in for a shift?"
Fujimaru simply shrugged, a faint, maddeningly calm smile playing on his lips. "Faith is a powerful catalyst, Director."
"I don't buy it for a second," Olga snapped, though the lack of bite in her voice betrayed her sheer fatigue. "No 'item' in modern magecraft can stabilize an elemental of that level without a massive ritual circle, and 'prayer' doesn't produce Divine Shields. You're a total anomaly, Fujimaru. But..."
She looked over at the sleeping Mash and then at the shimmering crystals left behind by the fallen Servants. She let out a long, defeated sigh.
"But you're the anomaly that kept us alive. So, for now, I'll let that ridiculous excuse slide."
"I appreciate that," Fujimaru said, his voice carrying a hint of genuine gratitude.
The heavy silence of the aftermath was suddenly broken by a soft rustle. Mash's fingers twitched against the blackened earth, her breathing shifting from a deep sleep to a sudden, sharp intake of air.
"Senpai!"
Her eyes snapped open, wide with panic. She bolted upright, her instincts as a Demi-Servant forcing her awake before her mind had even fully processed the victory. She looked around frantically, her hand reaching for a shield that was no longer gripped in her hand.
"Calm down. It's all over," Olga said, her voice uncharacteristically soft as she moved to steady the trembling girl. The Director's hand rested on Mash's shoulder, a grounding presence for the disoriented and traumatized Kouhai.
"I... I was useless," Mash whispered, her head dropping as her shoulders began to shake. A few stray tears escaped, splashing onto the charred ground. The memory of the stone curse and the helplessness of the battle clearly weighed heavy on her.
"You were helpful, you know," Olga countered. Gone was the sharp, demanding tone of the Director of Chaldea; in its place was the warmth of an older sister comforting a younger sibling. She didn't look away, her expression surprisingly tender as she tried to pull Mash out of her self-doubt.
Then, as if suddenly remembering she had a reputation to uphold, Olga's head snapped toward Fujimaru.
"Fujimaru! Go and comfort Mash right now!"
The Director's commanding tone was back in full force. It was a classic Olga maneuver: hiding her own vulnerability by barking orders at someone else to do the emotional heavy lifting.
"You were amazing, Mash. Truly. You held your own against legendary Servants," Fujimaru praised her, his voice warm and sincere.
He walked over slowly and knelt beside her. With a gentle, grounding motion, he reached out and began to stroke her hair as if soothing a child, intending only to comfort her and lift her spirits.
"Hwwaaa.... Hwwaaa....!"
But the moment Fujimaru's hand touched her hair, the dam finally broke. Whatever composure Mash had been trying to maintain vanished instantly. Her soft whimpers erupted into a full-blown, sobbing wail, her body shaking as the sheer relief and lingering terror of the night poured out all at once.
"Wait! Why is she crying even harder now?!" Olga panicked, waving her hands around frantically. She leaned in, trying to shush Mash with a mix of awkward patting and exasperated concern. "I told you to comfort her, not break her! Do something, Fujimaru!"
"There, there. Cry as much as you want. I'm right here with you," Fujimaru said, swiftly changing his strategy. He shifted closer, sitting right beside Mash and gently guiding her head to rest against his shoulder. Instead of trying to stop the tears, he allowed her to simply cry it all out.
It worked. Slowly, the heavy sobs turned into soft hiccups, and the exhaustion of the night finally claimed her. She drifted back into a deep, peaceful sleep. Fujimaru remained still, gently patting the sleeping girl on his lap as if soothing a child.
"You're... surprisingly good at handling young ladies," Olga noted, genuinely impressed despite herself.
"You think so?" Fujimaru replied softly. Ensuring Mash was comfortable, he then shifted his attention to the blue-haired Servant standing nearby. "Thank you for assisting us against those Servants, Cú Chulainn."
"So you do know my name, huh," Cú Chulainn grunted. "No need to overpraise me. You were the one playing the crucial role in this victory, Master. Honestly, it pisses me off just thinking about it getting turned into a stone statue by Medusa, and having all my Runes and Skills sealed away by Benkei." The Caster kicked a nearby piece of rubble in sheer frustration.
He paused, his crimson eyes shifting downward to analyze the sleeping Mash. "Still, that shield girl has some absurdly high defense. When my stolen Noble Phantasm hit her earlier, it didn't even deal a critical blow. She only passed out because the accumulated damage finally caught up to her. I don't know what Class she's supposed to be, but she's definitely one tough wall."
"Fujimaru, what's your take on him?" Olga Marie asked quietly, keeping a wary eye on the Celtic mage.
"He's not an enemy," Fujimaru answered with absolute certainty, having already assessed the situation.
"For now, prioritize gathering information," a new voice suddenly interjected. A glowing blue holographic projection flickered to life from Mash's wrist device, displaying the feed from Chaldea.
"Oh, what's this? Some kind of magical communication?" Cú Chulainn asked, leaning in to inspect the hologram.
"It is an honor to meet you, Child of Light of Ireland, Cú Chulainn. We owe you our gratitude," Dr. Roman said, adopting a highly respectful and formal tone.
"Cut the small talk. What's your objective?" Cú Chulainn shot back, his voice suddenly cold and razor-sharp.
"Great..." Roman sighed, his shoulders instantly slumping.
-
"Let me be clear are you a Servant of this Holy Grail War, and are you the sole survivor?" Roman asked, his voice firm yet laced with underlying doubt.
"It's undefeated. Our Holy Grail War twisted into something entirely different. This city was consumed by flames, and every last human vanished. Only Servants remain. Saber was the one who continued the Holy Grail War. Archer, Lancer, Rider, Berserker, and Assassin... they were all defeated by Saber," Cú Chulainn explained, his tone deadly serious.
"All the other Servants were defeated... So the rules of the Holy Grail War have completely collapsed," Olga Marie said, her face pale with anxiety.
"Right. And every defeated Servant became corrupted." Cú Chulainn replied with unwavering resolve.
"If we defeat Saber, will that put an end to all of this?" Roman asked, trying to dig down to the root of the Singularity.
"Yeah, that might stop the Holy Grail War." Cú Chulainn admitted, staring ahead with a conflicted, heavy gaze.
"I see. So, you stepped in to help us, but in the end, it was purely for your own convenience? You want to defeat Saber, but you can't do it alone." Olga Marie interrogated, her sharp eyes narrowing at the Caster.
"Right you are. But it's not a bad deal, is it? Call it a pact. Your objective is to investigate the anomaly, and my objective is to end the Holy Grail War. What do you say? Care to join forces?" Cú Chulainn offered. His tone was casual, but the stakes behind his words were immense.
"Very well. We accept your terms," Olga Marie nodded firmly, reclaiming her authority as Director.
"Then it's decided. I'll be counting on you. There's one specific thing you need to look for... what you're truly after is likely the Greater Grail," Cú Chulainn said, his voice dropping into a mysterious register.
"The Greater Grail? I'm not familiar with that term," Dr. Roman inquired, clearly intrigued.
"It is the beating heart of this land. If there's something creating this 'Singularity' of yours, it has to be that. But Saber is guarding the Greater Grail, along with the corrupted Servants," Cú Chulainn elaborated.
"What about the remaining Archer? Who are they? Are they strong?" Olga Marie asked, growing more cautious about the enemies ahead.
"Archer can be handled," Caster replied vaguely, offering only a cryptic hint.
"Understood. We will cooperate with you to secure the Greater Grail. Could you lead the way?" Dr. Roman asked, closely monitoring the situation from Chaldea.
Mash's eyes fluttered open, her consciousness slowly returning as she realized she was resting on Fujimaru's lap.
"Feeling a bit better, Mash?" Fujimaru asked softly.
"Y-Yes, much better. Thank you, Senpai," she murmured. Her cheeks instantly flared a deep shade of crimson as the embarrassing memory of her tearful breakdown rushed back to her.
"Don't worry about it," Fujimaru said, his tone gentle but carrying a quiet wisdom. "You're incredibly strong. You just haven't tapped into your full potential yet."
Mash's eyes widened, her full attention snapping to him. "Wait... Senpai, do you know what my powers are?!"
"Something like that," he replied with a warm, reassuring smile. "But your true abilities aren't something that can be forced out. When the time is right, you'll awaken them naturally. I believe in you, Mash."
"Right, Senpai!" Mash beamed, a bright, genuine smile finally returning to her face.
"Normally, of course, a Servant masters their abilities the moment they are summoned," Caster suddenly interjected, his voice slicing through the tender atmosphere.
"After all, a Servant and their Noble Phantasm are two sides of the same coin. Invoking it is pure instinct. If a young girl like you can fight on par with a Heroic Spirit, you should be able to unleash your Noble Phantasm right here and now. If you can't... it means there is a fundamental blockage at the very core of those instincts."
As he delivered his cold analysis, Cú Chulainn's eyes narrowed. Without warning, he projected a sudden, suffocating wave of bloodlust directly at them.
Driven entirely by the very instincts Caster had just questioned, Mash instantly threw herself in front of Fujimaru, ready to shield him with her life. A split-second later, Olga Marie aggressively stepped in front of Mash, instinctively placing her own body between her subordinate and the threatening Celtic mage.
Seeing their seamless, protective chain reaction, Cú Chulainn let out a low chuckle and instantly dissipated his killing intent. The oppressive pressure vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Olga slumped slightly, letting out a long, ragged exhale as she massaged her temples.
"I am so tired."
"Still, I don't get it. You clearly possess top-tier qualities as a magus, yet you have absolutely zero aptitude as a Master. Were you cursed or something?" Cú Chulainn remarked, tilting his head in genuine confusion.
"So what if I don't?!" Olga snapped, her pride stinging.
"Well, your stubbornness is definitely top-tier too!" Cú Chulainn laughed.
After a brief, much-needed rest, the group set off toward the Greater Grail, bracing themselves for whatever trials lay ahead.
"The Greater Grail is just up ahead," Cú Chulainn warned as the environment around them began to shift.
"This looks like a natural cave system," Mash observed, looking around the cavernous walls. "Was this always underneath Fuyuki?"
"It's likely partially artificial," Olga deduced, her eyes critically scanning the rock formations. "This is a massive underground workshop, carved out and reinforced by magi over many years."
She then turned her attention back to the Cú Chulainn, her expression turning serious. "Cú Chulainn, do you know Saber's True Name? You've clearly clashed with her multiple times in this Singularity."
"Of course I do. Anyone who catches even a glimpse of her Noble Phantasm would instantly know exactly who she is. The sword pulled from the stone. It's incredibly famous in your era. Her name is—"
Caster didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. A new voice echoed through the cavern, cutting him off completely.
"The Sword of Promised Victory, Excalibur. Wielded by the King of Knights, King Arthur."
A man cloaked in the shadows of the cave stepped forward, a sleek black bow gripped firmly in his hand.
"Ah, the faithful hound. Playing the loyal knight as always, I see, Archer," Cú Chulainn remarked, entirely unfazed by the sudden ambush.
"Hmph. I don't recall ever being anyone's retainer," Archer retorted, his voice dripping with cynicism. "I am simply sweeping out some unwanted guests."
"In other words, you're the gatekeeper. I have no idea why you're going out of your way to protect Saber, but this is where it ends," Cú Chulainn stated, his eyes narrowing sharply as he shifted his weight, fully prepared for combat.
He then glanced over his shoulder. "Hey, don't just stand there! He's an Archer. Without a shield up front to draw his fire, I won't have the time to chant my spells!"
"Understood! Leave it to me," Mash replied without hesitation, stepping to the vanguard and hoisting her massive cross-shield to protect the Cú Chulainn.
Meanwhile, Fujimaru remained focused. Standing safely behind the frontline, he swiftly activated his True Name Discernment EX, his eyes scanning the shadowed man to analyze the enemy Archer's status.
Name: Emiya
Class: Archer
Attribute: Man
Gender: Male
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance (D Rank): As a modern magus, the Servant's innate affinity with magecraft is significantly lower than that of Heroic Spirits from the Age of Gods. Consequently, the level of Magic Resistance is equivalent to a standard anti-magic amulet. It nullifies single-action spells but fails to protect against Thaumaturgy utilizing two or more verses.
Independent Action (B Rank): The ability to remain manifested in the world without an active mana supply from a Master. At Rank B, the Servant can remain materialized for up to two days, provided that combat and the deployment of Noble Phantasms are completely avoided to conserve magical energy. Additionally, this skill allows the Servant's form to persist for a brief period even after the spiritual core has sustained lethal damage.
Personal Skills:
Hawkeye (B+ Rank): A visual ability that enhances both static visual acuity and kinetic vision. It enables precise, ultra-long-range targeting against high-speed objects up to four kilometers away. This enhanced perception is mechanically achieved by applying Reinforcement magecraft directly to the user's optic nerves.
Mind's Eyes (True) (EX Rank): A danger-avoidance ability cultivated through a vast accumulation of combat experience rather than innate talent. It grants the capacity to calmly analyze battle conditions and one's own physical state, even in critical situations, to deduce the optimal course of action. If there is even a 1% chance of survival or victory, this skill facilitates the execution of the necessary strategy to achieve that outcome.
Magecraft (C- Rank): The capability to utilize orthodox Thaumaturgy, primarily Reinforcement and Projection (Gradation Air). While the user's overall proficiency in standard magecraft is limited, the specific application of Projection, known as Tracing, is highly advanced. Tracing allows for the precise replication of weapons, including their internal structure, material composition, and history. During duplication, the accumulated combat experience of the original wielder is also read, granting the user temporary access to the weapon's associated martial techniques.
Trace On: Circuit Connection (EX Rank): A unique application of Projection magecraft used to manifest specific armaments, most notably the twin blades Kanshou and Bakuya. Because identical replicas can be continuously projected without significant mana loss, it enables the tactic of intentionally overloading and destroying projected Noble Phantasms. By filling a projected weapon with magical energy and firing it as an explosive projectile a technique designated as a Broken Phantasm its destructive power is momentarily increased.
Stats:
Strength D | Endurance C | Agility C | Mana B | Luck E | NP
Noble Phantasms:
Unlimited Blade Works: Infinite Creation of Swords: A Reality Marble that materializes the user's inner world, temporarily overwriting reality to form a Bounded Field. It manifests as a dimension that automatically analyzes, records, and permanently stores the blueprints of any weapon the user observes. The majority of the stored armaments are replicated Noble Phantasms from other Heroic Spirits. Due to the inherent limitations of Projection magecraft, all duplicated weapons undergo a one-rank degradation in power compared to their original counterparts.
"Mash, he's about to fire! Brace yourself!" Fujimaru commanded, his voice slicing through the tense air. Wasting no time, he rapidly invoked a chain of tactical spells: "Lesser Strength! Lesser Dexterity! Quick March! Slow! Confusion!" The rapid-fire incantations layered a sequence of physical buffs over his team while simultaneously hurling a barrage of debilitating curses at the enemy Archer.
In response, Archer simply extended his hand. A pitch-black sword materialized in his grasp, its blade strangely distorted, featuring small, jagged edges spiraling around a thin, drill-like core. With terrifying speed, he nocked the twisted heavy blade onto his black bow, drawing the string taut.
He released it. As the sword-arrow tore through the air, it violently fractured, splintering into a torrential barrage of deadly, high-speed shrapnel that rained down upon them.
Mash lunged forward, slamming her massive cross-shield into the ground. She successfully absorbed the brunt of the lethal storm, but the sheer kinetic force and overwhelming volume of the splintered blades forced her to skid backward, her boots carving deep trenches into the cavern floor.
That momentary clash was all the opening Cú Chulainn needed.
Without hesitation, he activated his Noble Phantasm: Wicker Man: Cage of Scorching, Consuming Flames (Anti-Unit (Self) A+
The flaming wicker giant lunged forward with a fiery roar, its massive fists slamming into Archer with the full, cataclysmic force of an A+ Rank Noble Phantasm. The impact was devastating, seemingly enough to end the battle instantly by violently crushing the Archer's physical form.
Yet, at the very precipice of total obliteration, Archer's aura exploded with his final reserves of energy. His voice resonated, cold and absolute, cutting through the roaring flames: "I am the bone of my sword..."
A massive, distorted wave of magical energy swept through the underground cavern. Suddenly, the fires of the Wicker Man were snuffed out not because they had faded, but because the reality around them was being forcefully overwritten. The stone cave collapsed and twisted, trapping Fujimaru, Mash, Olga, and Cú Chulainn within an infinite Bounded Field.
The subterranean workshop vanished, replaced by a vast, barren wasteland under a beautiful yet bizarre twilight sky. Above, colossal clockwork gears turned continuously, like the ceaseless mechanical heart of creation. And beneath their feet, stretching as far as the eye could see, thousands perhaps millions of swords were driven into the earth, lined up like gravestones in a silent cemetery of steel. Archer had manifested his inner world: Unlimited Blade Works: Infinite Creation of Swords.
Suddenly, the thousands of swords embedded in the barren wasteland began to vibrate violently. One by one, the steel blades and copied relics were pulled from the earth, levitating into the air as if drawn by countless unseen hands. The crimson twilight sky was quickly eclipsed by a vast, hovering ocean of weaponry, their lethal points shifting in unison to lock onto their targets: Fujimaru, Mash, Olga, and Cú Chulainn.
Without offering a moment's pause or a shred of mercy, Archer dropped his hand.
The storm of steel descended. Like a catastrophic meteor shower of blades, the swords rained down upon them simultaneously from every conceivable angle, leaving absolutely no blind spots or avenues of escape.
"Crystal Wall!" Fujimaru shouted, rapidly channeling his magical energy and slamming his hands down.
Instantly, thick, luminous pillars of crystal erupted from the earth. The crystalline structures curved and fused together at blinding speed, forming a complete, absolute defensive dome that fully enclosed the group. The very second the barrier sealed shut, the storm of blades made impact.
A deafening, relentless cacophony of shrieking steel and shattering metal echoed violently inside the confined space of the crystal walls. Sparks and fractured blades ricocheted outside as the crystalline dome held firm, completely repelling the torrential rain of death striking them from every possible angle.
However, with Archer having already sustained a fatal wound, it was certain that his Reality Marble could not be maintained for long. Soon enough, the terrifying sound of raining swords ceased entirely. The crystal dome dissolved back into the ground, exposing them once more to the dark, familiar confines of the underground cavern. Before them, Archer's fallen form was already beginning to disintegrate into motes of light.
"Excellent work, mage!" Archer praised, thoroughly impressed by the flawless defense.
Archer vanished completely, leaving behind only a single, shimmering crystal that clattered against the stone floor. Moving with practiced subtlety, Fujimaru stepped forward and quietly pocketed the gem before anyone else could notice.
"Hey, time to move. The young girl and I will deal with the Holy Sword!" Caster said, urging them to continue.
"I'm glad you trust me, but are you sure I can hold it back? I've heard of King Arthur. My fingers are trembling, it's too much for me," Mash answered, looking hesitant.
"You just need to face it with courage. But from my position, you look perfectly suited. That shield has never broken; if you lose, it's only because you messed up. Don't think about defeating the sword. Just protect your Master. Leave Saber to me. Do what needs to be done," Caster said seriously, giving clear guidance.
"Right, that is good advice," Mash answered, growing more confident.
"This is the Greater Grail. An Ultra-superior Magical Reactor. What is it doing on a far-east island?" Olga Marie asked with confusion, staring at the object that seemed so powerful.
"According to the data, it was built by the Einzbern family of alchemists. They aren't part of the Mage's Association; they are famous for producing homunculi," Dr. Roman answered, providing an explanation.
"Sorry to interrupt, but she's already noticed us," Cú Chulainn said, his eyes checking someone appearing before them.
A girl stood in front of them. Her skin was pale, her pupils were gold, and she wore jet-black armor. In her hand, a black sword glowed.
Natan immediately checked the girl's status with True Name Discernment EX.
Name: Artoria Pendragon (Alter)
Class: Saber
Attribute: Man
Gender: Female
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance (B Rank): Due to being blackened, the rank of this skill is lower than its original value. Still, its rank is considerably high, as it nullifies spells at B rank or lower, and it is difficult to harm her even with greater magecraft.
Riding (— Rank): In the maddened state while blackened, the loss of fine control makes it impossible for Saber Alter to ride beasts; rather, the mount cannot withstand it. Therefore, in reality, one can consider the Riding ability lost.
Personal Skills:
Mana Burst (Reverse Scale) (A Rank): Form of an enormous amount of magical energy always covers her body like a dense fog regardless of her will. Combined with her armor the trail of magical energy increases her defensive power considerably, but it her agility has decreased as a result due to her armor being heavier.
Twilight Star (A Rank): In order to maintain her reason in this state, constant self-control is required. Due to her constantly suppressing her rage, her surroundings are neglected and Instinct is dulled. On the other hand, Artoria in this state may be rather more likely to take action due to her behavior being distanced away from that of a hero's.
Charisma (E Rank): Saber Alter boasts the natural talent to command an army, however, the rank of this skill is much lower than normal, as the magnificent king's charm which once inspired and captivated her soldiers is gone. It increases her leadership skills while significantly decreasing the morale of her troops.
Stats:
Strength A | Endurance A | Agility D | Mana A++ | Luck C | NP A++
Noble Phantasms:
Excalibur Morgan: Sword of Promised Victory Anti Fortress A++ Rank: Corrupted Evil Excalibur. Due to its nature as a sword that amplifies, it is blackened when Artoria was blackened by Angra Mainyu, reflecting her inner feelings and corrupted nature as Saber Alter. The blackened Magical Energy is the primeval Curse that lurks in the British Isles. Becoming the "Black Sword of Ultimate Light", Excalibur Morgan is no longer sheathed in Invisible Air and takes on a different appearance. Rather than creating an almighty slash at the tip of the sword, Excalibur gathers a large amount of Magical Energy to cover the sword in a black light with the same shape. It matters not if it is filled with good or stained by evil as the fact that it is the strongest holy sword and thus does not change.
"This mana density is absurd... Is that really King Arthur?" Mash whispered, her eyes wide with astonishment and difficult breathing.
"There's no mistaking it," Dr. Roman answered quickly over the comms, his voice tense. "Although her aura is entirely different, she is undeniably the King of Britain, Arthur, the wielder of the holy sword. Her gender may differ from the legends you know, but she had her own reasons for disguising herself as a man in the past."
"You're right, Doctor. I really thought she was a man... but she's actually a woman," Mash murmured, swallowing hard.
"Don't let her appearance fool you," Cú Chulainn interjected with a sharp warning. "Her strength doesn't lie in her muscles, but in the terrifyingly massive magical furnace within her. Every single one of her strikes carries lethal destructive power. Drop your guard for a second, and you'll be cleaved in two. Defeat her, and all the anomalies in this Singularity will vanish!"
Saber remained silent for a moment, her cold, golden eyes assessing them. "I see... You've brought a rather interesting Servant with you."
Caster flinched in surprise. "Wait, you can talk?! I thought you'd lost your mind and gone mute this whole time!"
"I have. However, I am quite curious about that girl's," Saber stated, her tone flat but laced with malice as she raised her blackened blade. "Brace yourself, shield-bearer. Excalibur will test the limits of your defense."
"Get ready, Mash, Cú Chulainn! Here she comes!" Momon shouted, shattering the tense atmosphere. Wasting absolutely no time, he rapidly chanted a chain of tactical spells. "Lesser Strength! Lesser Dexterity! Quick March! Magic Shield! Regenerate!"
Simultaneously, Natan followed up, hurling a barrage of debilitating curses at the encroaching King. "Slow! Fear! Confusion!"
To fully fortify their vanguard, a final invocation was cast: "Summon Mid-Tier Angel: Principality Observation!" A brilliant column of holy light erupted, materializing the armored celestial guardian. Without hesitation, the entity took its stance at the absolute frontline, ready to absorb the incoming impact.
Saber lunged forward, swinging her blackened blade relentlessly. Every slash unleashed a shockwave of hyper-dense mana that tore through the air, crashing directly into Mash. The sheer, crushing weight of the strikes forced Mash to grit her teeth as she struggled desperately to hold her ground behind her shield. Principality Observation the guardian Angel summoned by Fujimaru swiftly moved to the vanguard, interweaving with Mash to absorb the barrage of lethal blows.
Seeking an opening, Caster rapidly chanted a volley of "Ansuz" spells, hurling them at Saber. Yet, the King of Knights effortlessly deflected the flames without so much as breaking her gaze.
Her absolute killing intent was locked onto a single target: Mash. Saber ruthlessly swatted the Angel aside with overwhelming force whenever the celestial being attempted to intervene. She treated Cú Chulainn's fiery assaults and Olga's cursed Gandr shots with the same cold indifference either completely ignoring the attacks or effortlessly blowing them away with the sheer pressure radiating from her blade.
Realizing that standard magecraft would never break her absolute focus, Caster launched one final "Fireball" solely as a calculated distraction. In that exact fraction of a second, he anchored himself and triggered the true release of his Noble Phantasm: "Wicker Man: Cage of Scorching, Consuming Flames Anti-Unit (Self) (A+ Rank)"
Yet, Saber did not falter. Facing the towering giant of fire rushing to engulf her, she gripped her hilt with both hands. The draconic reactor within her roared to life, activating her skill Mana Burst (Reverse Scale) (A Rank). A terrifying surge of dark energy coalesced around the blade, exponentially amplifying its destructive power.
Excalibur Morgan: Sword of Promised Victory Anti Fortress A++ Rank. The Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm was unleashed. A cataclysmic beam of blackened light tore through the cavern.
Principality Observation immediately stepped into the vanguard, channeling all of its celestial energy into its shield to intercept the attack. However, facing an A++ Rank strike fueled by a dragon's wrath, the Angel's defense shattered. The entity was completely incinerated in an instant, but its sacrifice significantly dulled the initial momentum and reduced the overall impact of the dark torrent.
"Haaaaahhhh!" Mash screamed, stepping into the breach and pouring everything she had into withstanding the remaining impact of Excalibur Morgan. Her massive cross-shield shone brilliantly, projecting a colossal, circular barrier of white light against the encroaching darkness.
The absolute powers collided in a blinding flash.
Caster's blazing wicker giant slammed into Saber's back with full force, delivering a devastating, fatal blow. Yet, the King of Knights' resolve did not waver; her Noble Phantasm continued to erupt, unleashing a pillar of dark crimson light that annihilated everything in its path. On the other side, Mash's fortress of light stood firm, trembling violently against the tide but successfully holding back the torrent of destruction until Excalibur Morgan finally faded.
As the explosive energy subsided, Saber stood unsteadily, her form already beginning to fracture into motes of light.
"Hmph... My power wanes," Saber murmured, her voice now carrying a profound and hollow sense of regret. "I protected this Holy Grail until the very end... But ultimately, I could not change my fate. I always... end up entirely alone."
"What are you talking about?! Damn it, what do you know?!" Caster demanded, his features twisting with a mix of raw anger and confusion.
"In the end, you will realize it too... Child of Light from Ireland," Saber said softly, her words heavy with omen. "The Grand Order... the true battle for the Holy Grail... has only just begun."
With those final words, the King of Knights vanished completely, dissolving into cold motes of light dropping a crystal.
"Hey, wait! Explain yourself!" Caster yelled, reaching out toward the fading radiance. Suddenly, he froze as his own body began to turn transparent. "Whoa! Damn, is my time up already? I'll leave the rest to you! If there's a next time, try summoning me as a Lancer!"
Caster flashed a wide, defiant grin before his form dissolved into the lingering underground winds. In the heavy silence that followed, Momon stepped forward calmly, quietly collecting the large, glowing crystal left behind by the fallen King