Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sharp ring of weapons slamming against shields echoed across the battlefield.
Medusa darted like a living serpent, slipping effortlessly between Mash and [Mash].
Mash strained with every block, her face tight with effort.
She was clearly struggling to match Medusa's blistering rhythm. Several times her shield nearly slipped from her grip.
[Mash], by contrast, moved with lazy confidence, as if she hadn't even begun to try.
And she truly hadn't.
She was using Medusa as the perfect sparring partner to sharpen this world's Mash—blocking every strike cleanly while offering almost no counterattacks.
[Mash] refused to let this Singularity end with the local Mash unchanged. She would pass on every lesson she had learned so the girl could skip the painful detours.
Medusa suddenly planted a powerful kick against Mash's shield, using it as a springboard. She launched herself ten meters back, landing lightly. A smug sneer curled her lips; victory already felt certain in her mind.
From the exchange so far she had taken their measure: one rookie who could barely hold her shield steady, and one defensive statue who only blocked and never attacked.
Simple. Take out the rookie first. Then use her superior speed to tangle up the other until an opening appeared—one lethal strike.
Just like a viper slowly coiling around its prey before the final swallow.
After that, the two extras below would be easy. And the Master in the middle—the one who looked exactly her type—would be hers to keep.
The thought made Medusa's lips curve into a cruel smile. A soft, bell-like laugh escaped her.
"Hmph Hmph Hmph~"
She took a step forward, ready to execute her plan.
Then a single voice cut through the fight.
"[Mash], Mash—both of you, fall back."
It was Adam.
[Mash] obeyed instantly, flashing back to his side. Mash hesitated for half a second before retreating in front of Ritsuka Fujimaru.
[Mash]'s breathing was perfectly steady; she didn't look like she had been fighting at all. Mash, on the other hand, panted hard, shoulders heaving.
Only after confirming no threats lingered near Adam did [Mash] speak.
"What's wrong, Senpai? Spot an enemy in the shadows? Or do you want me to end this quickly?"
Ritsuka Fujimaru and Olga Marie both turned curious eyes toward him.
"I just thought of a much better solution," Adam said, gaze fixed on the Servant selection panel floating before him.
He glanced at Medusa's eldest sister—Stheno—then at the second sister—Euryale. A four-star and a three-star. Total cost: nineteen.
He checked the counter in the corner.
Cost — 0/20
Perfect.
Everyone knew how deeply Medusa cared for her two older sisters. No matter the class or state she was in, the moment those two appeared she turned into a helpless little sister who couldn't lift a finger against them.
Medusa herself had no idea what was coming.
She watched Adam recall both Mashes and assumed he was afraid—afraid she would kill them, afraid he would lose his companions. So he had pulled them back. Was he about to run?
Then why was he still standing there?
"Hm? What's this? Surrendering already?" Medusa sneered, pointing straight at Adam. "If you want to beg for your lives, I'll spare the rest of you. Just hand over that Master in the middle."
Her eyes gleamed with naked greed.
[Mash]'s brows snapped together. She was seriously considering blasting Medusa to dust with her Noble Phantasm—Hope-Affirming Sword of the Human Order (Rayproof Kyrielight)—and calling it a day.
Olga Marie, however, looked utterly relaxed, as if she might pour herself a cup of tea at any moment.
Having seen Adam's magecraft firsthand, she trusted his strength completely.
Even if [Mash] couldn't handle it, he still had the divine Servant he had summoned earlier—Ereshkigal.
One word and the threat would vanish.
There was no way he could summon yet another god-level Servant on top of that… right? No. Impossible. No Master, no matter how ridiculous, could pull two divine Servants in a row.
Ritsuka Fujimaru still wore that innocent expression untouched by the cynicism of magecraft.
She clearly hadn't grasped the full extent of Adam's power—or [Mash]'s.
Believing Medusa's words at face value, she stepped protectively in front of him, radiating a fierce "this is my man, back off" energy.
Adam smiled gently and patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry."
Under her anxious gaze he walked straight toward Medusa, stepping out of the two Shielders' protection. He stopped about five meters away.
Medusa thought he had come to surrender.
"You actually stepped forward. I have to admire your courage—for your companions' sake, no less."
"Unfortunately—" Before she could finish, Adam cut in.
"Medusa. Do you miss your two big sisters?"
Medusa froze.
She didn't even have time to wonder how he knew her true name. The question itself left her stunned.
What did he just ask?
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
Do you miss them? As if you could actually let me see them—
Adam's smile widened; he already knew exactly what would happen next.
Medusa suddenly felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Adam snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Cost — 19/20
In an instant, two familiar figures materialized in front of Medusa.
Stheno and Euryale.
Olga Marie's eyes nearly popped out of her head. Two more Servants—and from the divine pressure rolling off them, two more gods!
How many could this man summon?!
Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash stared at the new arrivals, then remembered the divine Servant Adam had summoned earlier—Ereshkigal. The pattern clicked.
Why did Adam only summon female Servants?
Was his luck with women really that absurdly high?
Ritsuka watched him with a complicated expression. His conquest route still had a long way to go… but surely he couldn't summon that many more girls, right?
[Mash] looked at the two goddesses and felt her face twist in pure dread.
Not these two!
Back in Chaldea these goddesses constantly dragged Medusa into Adam's room, and the three of them wouldn't come out until morning.
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
[Ritsuka Fujimaru Emotion Value +10]
[Mash Emotion Value +10]
[[Mash] Emotion Value +10]
***
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