Unfortunately, the heavens weren't listening.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Astolfo groaned, clutching his head.
"The Red Faction chose the plains as their battlefield," Chiron noted. As their Archer, he was the first to spot the massive fortress. His initial reaction wasn't much calmer than Astolfo's—anyone would be shocked.
"Is that even okay?" Caules adjusted his glasses. "It's massive. Once daylight comes, the Ruler's will intervene."
"They're betting even the Ruler can't handle something that big," Fiore replied, gripping the armrest.
"Saber, could your Noble Phantasm destroy it?" Gordes whispered to Siegfried.
"I doubt it. It would take something meant to destroy nations," Siegfried replied, shaking his head.
"Damn it! We're just supposed to watch them parade it around?" Gordes gritted his teeth. "And at a time like this…"
"There is no need to fear!"
A beam of light formed, revealing Vlad III, spear in hand, standing tall and staring down the fortress. His presence was reassuring. "They are invaders. I shall destroy them."
"Phew, that's comforting," Astolfo chuckled.
"Had it been just me, I might have failed again," Vlad III continued. "But this time, I have all of you. Lend me your strength, and we will win!"
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Turn! Turn! Turn!"
"Hah! I do things my way!"
Mordred cackled as she wildly spun the steering wheel. Her Riding skill allowed her to handle the magically modified car with unnatural precision. But while Mordred enjoyed herself, the others were on the verge of losing it.
Leticia, now Jeanne, clung to Cyd's waist, silently praying for safety, the negative buffs transferred over still affecting her.
"Hey! Are we there yet?!" Kairi roared, fighting off nausea. "At this rate, we'll die before we even reach the battlefield!"
"The fight's in the plains!" Cyd's lips twitched. "Can't these lunatics give us one peaceful night? It's only been a few days!"
"This is… the Holy Grail War!" Mordred laughed, the speedometer needle spinning wildly.
"There! I can see it!" Atalanta pointed out the window, ignoring the strange sensation in her tail.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Kairi shouted, slamming his foot onto the brake.
"Crash!"
Predictably, the car flipped due to inertia.
"Stop!"
Cyd punched through the car's roof. Black scales covered his arm, transforming it into a draconic limb as he tore the roof apart.
"My car!" Mordred wailed.
"That's not even your car!" Kairi bellowed, stomping harder on the brake.
Cyd wrapped his arm around Leticia and Atalanta, jumping out just before the car hit the ground, flipping over as it continued to roll.
"Extraction successful."
Cyd's shoulder scales formed a victory sign.
"How long… are you going to hold me?" Atalanta asked quietly.
"Smack!"
Cyd immediately released Jeanne, who doubled over, the negative buffs still affecting her.
"Let go of my tail!" Atalanta's soft fists pushed against Cyd's face.
"Ah… I was just worried you might kill me~" Cyd said, though his left hand still held her tail, showing no intention of letting go.
"How about this… Let me touch your ears, and I'll let go!" Cyd suggested, already reaching for her ears.
"W-wait! Hold on—Nyah!!!"
Five minutes later, Jeanne, having recovered, stared in confusion at the scene.
"Where are Red Saber and her Master? And what… is this?"
Cyd sat cross-legged, his white hair a mess. Atalanta was curled up in his lap, looking mortified.
Jeanne, knowing their mythological connection, wasn't too shocked, but why did Atalanta seem so embarrassed?
The answer was clear when Jeanne noticed Cyd playing with Atalanta's cat ears.
"Those two? Probably rolled to the battlefield by now. As for what I'm doing…" Cyd, dead serious, continued to play with her ears. "I'm preventing her from attacking the Ruler. My intentions are pure! I just really wanted to pet her ears!"
"…I want to die…" Atalanta mumbled, burying her face in his lap.
Of all people, why did it have to be Jeanne, who was slightly off-kilter herself, to witness this?
"I think… you should let go," Jeanne cautiously suggested. "Archer doesn't seem very happy."
"You're not happy?" Cyd stopped, looking hurt.
"N-no… I just can't fight back against you," Atalanta admitted, casting an annoyed glare at Jeanne.
Jeanne felt a pang of guilt—she was only trying to help.
"Well, I suppose it's time to get serious," Cyd said, helping Atalanta to her feet.
"Ugh." Atalanta reluctantly pushed him away.
"It's a bit over the top," Cyd muttered, glancing up at the massive fortress in the sky. Even from a distance, it was impossible to miss.
Sure, fighting at night was allowed, but that didn't mean they could do whatever they wanted. There were always insomniacs who might notice something that massive in the sky, and that fortress didn't look like it was going anywhere before dawn.
"Should we negotiate with the Red Assassin?" Jeanne suggested.
"Pointless," Cyd replied, narrowing his eyes. "I've met that woman. She may seem lazy, but she looks down on others. That fortress is her Noble Phantasm, and she won't be eager to hide her hard-earned territory. In fact…" Cyd's eyes sharpened, "this is likely a declaration of war."
"So, we need to stop them?" Jeanne sighed.
Cyd shot her a sidelong glance, doubting her ability to take down the fortress, but deciding it was best to calm her down first.
"Can you fly?"
"No," Jeanne blinked.
"Can you jump up there?"
"No."
"Then how do you plan to stop her?"
"…" Jeanne fell silent for a moment, then hesitantly raised her hand. "Persuade her?"