The dense darkness covering the mountain road was no longer twilight but the depths of night.
Mordred drove the steel beast at breakneck speed, using the car's headlights to cut through the inky blackness ahead.
The AE86 had long surpassed its original speed limits, with numerous parts of the vehicle emitting sounds of protest. If left unchecked, it wouldn't be long before the AE86 would be completely wrecked.
Mordred paid no heed to this, channeling her magical energy into the car, unleashing all its horsepower while simultaneously keeping the tires from losing grip due to the overwhelming torque. It was no exaggeration to say that Mordred was using her brute force to tame a beast a hundred times her weight.
However, Mordred didn't find this task arduous. Her blood was boiling with excitement from the pursuit. The ferocity of the beast beneath her only fueled her fervor.
"I won't let you go, Father."
Mordred uttered the same words again, this time not as an expression of resolve but as a declaration of victory.
As a member of the Round Table, she knew that Dun Stallion had already reached its maximum speed. This burst of speed couldn't last long, a characteristic inherent to living horses—an immutable fact of nature.
But the AE86 was different. As a creation of science, as long as it had fuel, the steel and machinery could maintain this speed, even under overdrive conditions. In a prolonged chase, this capability was crucial.
As Mordred had anticipated, it wasn't long before Dun Stallion's speed started to drop. The distance created by its turns and bursts of speed began to close.
Alright, I've got you!
Mordred took a deep breath, instantly releasing all the magical energy she had accumulated, the mana from the air, and the magical energy she received through her contract with Shishigou via the Dragon's Factor.
The stains on the car were wiped clean by the surge of magical energy. The white car body was soon enveloped in a red aura, resembling a streak of crimson lightning.
With the infusion of magical energy, the engine's sound underwent a startling transformation.
The previously low, thunderous roar escalated to a piercing high pitch, becoming more ferocious and savage, tearing through the night sky. The intense acceleration transformed the car and its occupants into a bullet, with the night scenery streaking past like meteors.
At this moment, technology and mysticism became one.
At this moment, the driver and the car truly became one.
At this moment, the rebellious knight defied the laws of physics.
"Uoooooooh!"
Accompanied by a roar louder than the engine's, Mordred ignored the irregular shaking of the steering wheel, steering the AE86 into the air, aiming straight at Dun Stallion's rear.
However—just as the AE86 was about to make contact, a sudden gust of wind arose right in front of the car.
The wind disrupted the balance Mordred had painstakingly maintained and allowed the slowing Dun Stallion to speed up once more.
"Damn, Invisible Air!"
Mordred cursed, punching the steering wheel. The already unsteady vehicle shook even more violently.
"Don't panic, hold the direction—we're not done yet."
Sisigou's voice reached Mordred's ears. Though it sounded strained, like it was forced through gritted teeth, it injected new energy into the nearly deflated rebellious knight.
He grasped the handle firmly with his left hand, drew a sawed-off shotgun with his right, and aimed at the white horse not far away.
"I'm sorry, King Arthur. I know what you're doing is right, but I still have to stop you. After all, I'm Mordred's partner."
Late last night, or more accurately, in the early hours of this morning, after an exchange of information, Artoria and Jeanne extended an invitation to Mordred and Sisigou to join forces against the mastermind behind the scenes. In their view, every Master-Servant pair had an undeniable responsibility to uphold the fairness and justice of the Holy Grail War, and there was no reason to refuse.
Sisigou didn't oppose the idea of cooperation—though not for the noble reasons the two had in mind. He was simply annoyed by Father Shirou and Semiramis, irritated by their secretive scheming without involving him.
Additionally, by assisting Jeanne, he could request compensation—hiring a first-class magus like him was never cheap. Sisigou knew Jeanne had extra Command Spells, which could conveniently make up for his previous losses. Considering Jeanne's meticulous nature, negotiating for a Command Spell wouldn't be difficult.
Unfortunately, while Sisigou was on board, Mordred was not willing to cooperate. She outright rejected the invitation and the possibility of fighting alongside her father. No matter what Jeanne and Artoria said, she refused to agree. In the end, she dragged Sisigou away.
Though Artoria and Jeanne found it somewhat regrettable, they didn't dwell on it. Mordred was the rebellious knight who ended the Arthurian dynasty; it wasn't surprising she didn't want to fight alongside the one who had killed her.
After confirming that all the Servants had left Sighisoara, the two rode back to the village on the border between the two territories. The mastermind, the priest named Shirou, was well-hidden, and further searching was unlikely to yield results. It was better to wait patiently in Trifas.
While they didn't know the mastermind's exact plans, they were certain that his goal was the Holy Grail. As long as they waited near the Grail, he was bound to show up.
Incidentally, the village chosen as their base wasn't on the path of the Floating Garden, so they didn't notice anything unusual at first. It was only after receiving a notification from Shinji at Millennia Castle that they hurriedly rode out.
On the other side, Sisigou Kairi, who had been dragged away without a chance to voice his opinion, was dealing with a headache—his sulking Servant, Mordred.
Yes, Mordred was sulking, and Sisigou was certain of it.
Though he looked like a brute, Sisigou hadn't always lived a life of killing. He had once been married, had a family, and even had a cute daughter.
Mordred's behavior was exactly like his daughter's when she was sulking.
When his daughter sulked, Sisigou knew how to coax her. But when Mordred sulked, he was at a loss because he didn't know the root cause of her moodiness.
Weren't things fine just a moment ago? She had been getting along well with her father. Wasn't this the kind of moment Mordred had always dreamed of? Why had her attitude suddenly changed?
What was the matter?
Sisigou tried various methods, such as direct questioning, indirect probing, and changing the subject, but none worked. In the end, he resorted to his trump card, expending great effort to hunt a wild boar and roast it for Mordred. Only then did her mood slightly improve.
But this improvement was just a form of venting, converting her moodiness into appetite. Sisigou still didn't understand why Mordred was sulking.
It wasn't until they saw the Floating Garden and drove towards the battlefield that Sisigou finally understood the reason. This realization left him without doubt or complaint. As he had said before—between the world-renowned King Arthur and the rebellious knight, he would always support the latter!
Since Mordred wanted to stop Artoria, he would help without hesitation.
He pulled the trigger, and the shotgun roared like muffled thunder.