"Amidst the chaos, madness, and corruption brewed... darkness."
On the top of the hotel, Artorius calmly murmured as he watched the countless monsters crushed, shattered, and vaporized by artillery fire, barrages, and the effortlessly dominant Dragon Angels.
"It's the scent of Servants."
Beside Artorius, Scathach suddenly spoke leisurely.
Mash, shivering slightly, was present, as was X and Shuten-douji with her usual tipsy gaze.
Somewhat strangely, all the male Servants on Artorius's side were absent, while the female ones were present.
A bit intriguing.
"Seven Servants in total... Chaotic and Evil... Blackened, huh? Didn't expect those vampires to have some skill."
"What's the next move, Your Majesty?"
Everyone turned to Artorius, awaiting the Emperor's command.
"They have seven, and we have five. Of course, we'll face them."
Artorius said without hesitation.
"As for the lack of numbers... do you think I care about that?"
As Artorius's words fell, a sudden noise emerged amidst the endless chaos and clamor. Simultaneously, amidst the mountains of corpses and blood on the opposite side, an ominous spark flickered.
"!!!"
"Not right!"
Scathach reacted first, and X matched her speed. Shuten followed, while Mash was momentarily stunned before responding.
However, before they could act, a 'bullet' had already struck Artorius.
Extremely swift, unstoppable, and far more terrifying than ordinary gunpowder weapons. Caught by the Dragon Emperor's fingers, squeezed between them. The bullet transformed into a black-red liquid, about to seep into his skin, but before that could happen, a frosty flame flickered and the liquid evaporated.
"Well, well..."
Afterward, Artorius focused his attention on the foremost enemy, a girl clad in a military uniform, donning a broad-brimmed hat and a crimson cloak, effortlessly toting an object resembling a rifle. She held up her middle finger as a greeting to Artorius.
The first enemy Servant.
Her appearance was a fusion of modern military attire and accessories from Japan's warring states period, an unexpectedly coordinated mix of styles. Coupled with her black hair, sinister grin, and the gun slung over her shoulder, Artorius essentially confirmed her identity and condition.
Archer—with modified and corrupted Saint Graph that got filled with chaos and evil. Tainted and distorted beyond recognition. She became an 'Alter' and was entirely ruined.
Better described as 'Evil Spirit' rather than 'Heroic Spirit.'
Regarding her identity, a glance at the hat emblem, one could guess her origin.
The emblem was a 'Mokko-mon (Oda Clan Crest)'.
Thinking of the Mokko-mon, one thought of the Oda Clan; thinking of the Oda Clan, one thought of Oda Nobunaga.
In other words, this wicked girl, grinning with a fierce delight, surrounded by an aura reminiscent of flames, and bearing a gun on her shoulder, was likely the famous figure of the turbulent warring states era, the first of the three unifiers of Japan—Oda Nobunaga.
'Now that I think about it, it's weird when seeing Oda Nobunaga as a woman.'
"..."
'On second thought, it's quite normal and suits her eccentricity.'
Artorius thought this way and then drew a handgun.
The Smoky Flash Knight Demise—or 'Knight's Demise' for short.
Originated from his whimsical, presumptuous experiments in the past. Its power rivaled any gun. Although its effect was being swatted aside by Agravain's palm.
At that time, it held no practical value.
However now...
"..."
"Kyahahaha! What's that? You think you can belittle me with that trash?!"
Seeing Artorius draw a handgun, Nobunaga momentarily hesitated, then burst into laughter.
"Seems like I've been underestimated huh?!"
Simultaneously grinning wickedly, like the lowest street thug, she stuck out her tongue at Artorius and raised her middle finger.
Her tongue bore a piercing, alongside eye shadow at the corner of her eyes, gradient-colored long hair, and tattoos, all contributing to a post-modernist, dark, gothic, and eccentric style.
Meanwhile, the number of guns behind her continuously increased, increased, and increased.
Fueled by corrupted magical energy, those grim, roaring, flesh-and-machine, steel-and-iron blended guns were displayed one after another.
There were heavy 20mm and light 9mm arquebus—exotic imports from Europe and the so-called southern barbarian lands of Japan, as well as a variety of domestically forged guns. Every type of gun from Kokuyu, Sakai, and Satsuma.
This weapon, which saw heavy use in the warring states era and revolutionized warfare, was the key to victory against Takeda's world-renowned Red Cavalry in the Battle of Nagashino!
History intertwined with rumors, reality with legends, embodying the existence of Heroic Spirits and their Noble Phantasms.
"Perish, Dragon Emperor!"
In the loud shout of Nobunaga, three thousand floating guns automatically fired—first was the first row, then the second row, and finally the third row. This was known as the 'Three Line Formation'!
A spectacular spectacle, bullets imbued with magical energy and curses shot forth, directly aimed at Artorius amid the roars of skeletons.
"Show your corpse to the Three Thousand Worlds... Demon Descent! Behold, the Demon King's Three Line Formation!"
Although absurd and crude, the attack was genuine. The original 'Three Line Formation' was an E-rank Noble Phantasm. Combined with three thousand gunshots, it became an A-rank Noble Phantasm.
But enhanced by the modified Saint Graph, 'Three Line Formation' had been upgraded to A++ rank. This all-out assault concentrated into a single point, had the power to slay even divine beings!
However...
"This tactic has been outdated in our empire for a century..." Artorius spoke calmly. In the next moment, he vanished from his original spot.
"!"
Amidst the astonished gaze of Nobunaga, Artorius suddenly reappeared before her.
"Our empire's gunners approach their foes within twenty paces, then unleash a coordinated shot."
Having said this, Artorius raised his hand, his Noble Phantasm—Knight's Demise, pressed against Nobunaga's forehead.
"Damn bastard!" Nobunaga shouted in frustration.
Dubbed the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, Nobunaga felt her mind growing cold from her head to her tailbone. She attempted to flee, but her body wouldn't respond; she was immobilized by some magecraft.
Just as she was about to say something, without further ado, Artorius pulled the trigger.
*BANG!*
Smoke billowed, and Nobunaga's head was blown away with a resounding crack. Reds, whites, and greys gushed out and her body stood stiff for a moment before collapsing to the ground and crumbling like mud.
Oda Nobunaga, one of the Evil Spirits from the vampire's side, fell.
"Trying to outdo me in this kind of thing, fool."
Artorius raised the gun and blew on the barrel, performing a gun trick like a cowboy before holstering the gun. He surveyed his surroundings and shouted:
"Come! You wanted my life, didn't you?! I'm right here! I won't back down a step! Are you coming or not?!"
In an instant, the wails and howls of the Dead's horde were drowned out by the Dragon Emperor's loud and proud voice.