Tatsuya Suzuki's car sped along the streets, heading toward the bank of the Mion River.
The two members of Saber's camp fastened their seat belts and followed Tatsuya and Morgan. Irisviel opted not to ride in the King of Conquerors' chariot again, as her body could no longer endure the bumps. A safer mode of transportation was necessary.
However, none of them anticipated Tatsuya's aggressive driving.
It was understandable, though. The Mion River was mobilizing a vast amount of magic power, equivalent to that of dozens of people. Whether it was to defeat Caster or prevent the Holy Grail War from spilling over to ordinary people, swift action was required.
The streets of Miyama-cho were old and intricate, but Tatsuya had lived there for more than two years and was familiar with the layout. His home was not just a residence but a workshop and a base of operations, so he had memorized the surrounding terrain and road conditions.
A journey that would typically take half an hour was reduced to just a few minutes, and they soon arrived at the embankment of the Mion River.
Though the River was shrouded in thick fog that night, it did not affect the Servants' vision. Magicians like Tatsuya or Irisviel could also use magic to enhance their sight, cutting through the fog to see the source of the magic in the river's center.
Caster stood alone in the middle of the river, surrounded by alien shadows beneath the water. These shadows allowed him to stand atop the water's surface.
"It seems this magic has been prepared for at least two hours. Even with Caster's ability, and assuming he has a treasure that can serve as a magic furnace and inscribe special spells, he couldn't have completed it in just a few minutes," Morgan assessed the situation calmly.
As she had said, Caster did not chant any incantations. He merely stood there, waiting for the magic book in his hand to complete the massive ritual. Strangely, although Caster noticed the people on the riverbank, he showed no interest in them. He simply confirmed their presence and continued waiting for the magic to activate.
"Vile fiend! What are you planning tonight?" Artoria demanded, her voice filled with anger.
"My apologies, Saint, but I don't have time to entertain you now," Caster replied, his expression unusually serious, making it difficult to discern his emotions. "Right now, I am convening this unprecedented blasphemous banquet for the Master. It would be splendid if you could attend, hehehe~~"
Caster laughed loudly as the dark water beneath him began to churn. The countless monsters gathered below slowly reached out their hands, eventually swallowing the black-robed Caster.
"Not good."
Morgan immediately noticed the problem and raised her hand. A spell quickly formed and launched an attack above Caster's head. However, the sea demon's tentacles blocked the magic bombardment. Although a small gap appeared, it regenerated almost instantly, engulfing Caster.
"Let us once again raise the banner of salvation! Gather the forsaken, gather the oppressed! Let me lead you! Let me rule you! Our cries of torment will surely reach the heavens! Oh, Lord in heaven! I will praise you in the form of punishment!"
Caster's shrill voice pierced through the thick fog, echoing across the river. The surging water began to lift him higher, and the number of sea monsters under his feet continued to grow. Given the depth of the Mion River, the sheer number of these creatures was terrifying.
"It's too late. I intended to kill Caster before he was fully surrounded by the sea monsters," Morgan sighed softly, lowering her hand. "Now, it seems there's no way to prevent him from completing this vile summoning spell."
Tatsuya turned and glanced at both sides of the river. Caster's disturbance had already woken the citizens living near the riverbank. Lights were flicking on in every household, and soon, ordinary people who had nothing to do with the war would discover Caster's actions.
"Morgan!" Tatsuya's voice, usually calm, was uncharacteristically loud. Realizing his tone, he lowered his voice. "Can you please—"
"As you wish, my husband," Morgan replied, her voice light and gentle, almost inhuman.
Before Tatsuya could finish his request, the fog over the Mion River thickened, to the point where even Artoria could no longer see Caster. However, the shadow of the massive monster rising from the water, ready to soar into the sky, remained visible.
This was exactly what Tatsuya had hoped for—to control the situation and prevent uninvolved people from detecting it before it escalated further. For Morgan, creating a thick, cognition-blocking fog was a simple task.
"Thank you," Tatsuya said sincerely.
"You are that kind of man. You always act as if you care only about the people and things around you, but in truth, your ambitions are so grand that the world itself may not be able to contain them." Morgan suddenly placed her hand on Tatsuya's cheek, gently stroking it a few times before pulling her hand away. She then summoned her weapon, her attire shifting into a battle-ready stance.
This time, Tatsuya extended his hand toward her. "Lend it to me."
"Oh?" Morgan hesitated.
"Aren't you the queen? Since you are the ruler, you should stay behind and not always think about leading the charge yourself," Tatsuya said. "Leave the front lines to me."
"In that case, I look forward to your victory." Morgan handed the weapon to Tatsuya. "If the situation changes, we'll address it then."
Tatsuya took the magic spear in hand. "Caster mentioned his Master earlier. If these are his Master's orders, the person might be nearby."
"It's the same old rule. You handle the Servants, and I'll take care of the Masters," Morgan nodded in agreement.
As the two finished their discussion, Artoria, clad in her military uniform, rushed over and said, "The alliance is still intact. In that case, please allow me to join you on the battlefield, Tatsuya."
"You won't be the only one joining the fight," Tatsuya replied as the King of Conquerors' chariot landed on the shore.
The King of Conquerors looked perplexed. "What happened? Why did this thick fog suddenly appear on the river? Is that also Caster's doing?"
"It's just a means to isolate ordinary people," Tatsuya explained. "King of Conquerors, will you join forces with me and the King of Knights to defeat Caster?"
Iskandar grinned, clearly excited. "Ah, it's wonderful to be on the battlefield with warriors like you. Very well! Let me experience your strength firsthand on the battlefield!"
Then he looked at the two of them. "But if you both ride on my Noble Phantasm, won't you be unable to exert your full combat power?"
"There's no need. I've been blessed by the Lady of the Lake and can walk freely on water," Artoria replied with a calm smile.
Tatsuya wrote a rune in the air. "Same here. With the runes of water avoidance and flight, I can move freely as well."
"That's excellent! Hey, kid, stay on the shore," Iskandar instructed Waver as he set him down from the chariot. "Contact me if anything comes up."
"Understood," Waver replied.
Then Tatsuya gave Morgan a long look before turning around and, with the King of Knights and the King of Conquerors, sprinted into the thick fog over the river.
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