"Shut up, Rider!"
Celenike scolded Astolfo angrily, her expression one of utter fury, as though she wanted to devour him alive.
Astolfo opened his mouth to respond, but Chiron, quick to act, covered it with his hand.
This child truly had no sense of the situation. He didn't realize that Sieg was now the target of everyone's ire.
[In the Hanging Gardens, Kotomine Shirou stood watching the battle below, his expression betraying a faint eagerness to act.]
["Haha, even you can't help but feel excited now that the Holy Grail is so close at hand."]
[Semiramis approached Kotomine Shirou from behind, a faint smile playing on her lips. "But don't forget, if you die, I will vanish as well, and all of my plans will come to nothing. Do you understand?"]
[Kotomine Shirou: "Yes, of course I understand."]
[Semiramis: "Really? You're a Master now. It's best if you don't step onto the battlefield. So why insist on fighting, even at the risk of your life?"]
["If my plan contradicts God's will, then I should be struck down on the battlefield."]
[Kotomine Shirou's faint smile persisted. "If that is truly the case, then I will calmly accept my death. It would mean that God has not forgiven me."]
["However, if everything proceeds as planned, it will prove that God approves of my actions, and that my desire to claim the Greater Holy Grail to bring salvation to all mankind is righteous."]
["With that clarity, I am not confused at all."]
[Semiramis sighed helplessly. "So, you're going to throw your life away just to confirm whether this judgment is correct? I can't say I understand that…"]
[Kotomine Shirou: "That's exactly right."]
[Semiramis chuckled faintly. "But if you don't take this step, you won't be able to move forward. Fine, I forgive you. Go ahead, fight to your heart's content, and survive."]
[Kotomine Shirou: "Thank you. As long as I wield this sword forged by Caster, I will not fall short against any Noble Phantasm."]
["I have no intention of dying."]
Tohsaka Rin: "This guy actually plans to fight? Are all members of the Church this reckless?"
Diarmuid: "Don't underestimate him. He's definitely not an ordinary man."
Iskandar: "Oh? You know something?"
Diarmuid: "I fought him yesterday. He's no ordinary opponent."
Waver: "What? You didn't defeat him?"
Diarmuid: "No. This man is exceptionally skilled."
[On the outskirts of the battlefield, a car recklessly sped toward the fray.]
[It was Mordred and Sisigou, but this time, Mordred was the one driving.]
[Mordred: "Damn it! It's already started, Master!"]
["You don't say."]
[Sisigou gripped the car's armrest tightly, cold sweat dripping down his face. "More importantly, do you actually have the Riding skill?"]
[Mordred: "Of course! There isn't a horse alive I can't tame!"]
[Yet the way Mordred handled the car was so reckless it felt like the vehicle might take off at any moment.]
[Sisigou: "Really? You're rebelling against the laws of physics now, too!"]
[The pair sped toward the center of the battlefield.]
Sisigou: "...." (Note to self: Never let Saber drive again.)
Waver: "This is less driving and more vehicular destruction. That car won't survive."
[The battlefield was a chaotic mess.]
[Astolfo rode his griffin toward the Hanging Gardens, but a swarm of gargoyles descended to intercept him.]
[Elsewhere, Jeanne broke into the fight, only to be surrounded by Dragon Tooth Soldiers.]
[Avicebron had also released Spartacus, who—under his control—believed the Mage's Association to be the oppressor and attacked the Red faction.]
[Frankenstein was cutting down enemies on the battlefield but soon chased a group of Dragon Tooth Soldiers into the forest.]
[After she defeated the Dragon Tooth Soldiers, Kotomine Shirou appeared before her.]
["It seems my opponent is you, Frankenstein."]
[Kotomine Shirou sighed. "You are a pitiful creature, a beast born from humanity's pursuit of ideals. In some ways, you represent a critical turning point, a transitional existence that should be cherished."]
[He extended his hand toward her. "I know you well, and I understand you. So, would you like to replace Spartacus and become our Berserker?"]
["Ahhh!!!"]
[Frankenstein's response was to swing her hammer at him without hesitation.]
["It seems this won't work."]
[Shakespeare briefly appeared, waved his hand dismissively, and retreated to observe from a safe distance.]
["What is he even doing here?"]
["Very well, then. I'll fight you myself."]
[Kotomine Shirou threw several Black Keys, initiating combat with Frankenstein.]
[He used the Black Keys as anchors to cast magic, skillfully keeping his distance while attacking. However, Frankenstein's lightning easily shattered his magical formations.]
["It seems I'll have to use this."]
[Kotomine Shirou unsheathed the katana enhanced by Shakespeare, Miike Tenta Mitsuyo, and rushed forward to engage Frankenstein in close combat.]
[With the katana in hand, Kotomine Shirou's movements transformed. His agile body and precise swordsmanship completely overwhelmed Frankenstein, leaving her no room to counterattack.]
Caules: "Incredible… this is beyond what I expected."
Astolfo: "Berserker is completely outmatched!"
Frankenstein: "Mmm…"
Darnic: "To defeat a Heroic Spirit with a human body, even with a Servant-forged weapon… Kotomine Shirou, just who are you?"
Kotomine Shirou: "Hehe…"
[Meanwhile, Astolfo, still engaged in the aerial battle, realized that killing gargoyles one by one was ineffective. He immediately decided to use his Noble Phantasm.]
[La Black Luna: Magic Flute That Calls Panic, a tool granted to Astolfo by the good witch Logistilla of Avalon, it emits a magical sound similar in nature to the roar of a dragon, the cry of a giant bird, and the neighing of a divine horse, slamming targets within range with the force of an explosion of sound.]
[Astolfo blew into the flute, and the gargoyles disintegrated into dust in an instant.]
["Alright, full speed ahead!"]
[Astolfo put the magic flute away and guided his griffin toward the Hanging Gardens.]
Tohsaka Rin: "He wiped them all out in one move?"
Astolfo: "Haha, now you've seen how amazing I am!"
Celenike: "Idiot! What are you so happy about? You just exposed your Noble Phantasm!"
Astolfo: "Uh… I guess I did."
[On the ground, the battle between Vlad III and Karna continued.]
[Spartacus suddenly arrived on the battlefield, blindsiding Karna and sending him flying.]
[Atalanta fired arrows to stop Spartacus, but he ignored her attacks completely.]
[Karna: "Archer, I'll leave him to you."]
["Understood!"]
[Atalanta charged forward, engaging Spartacus in close combat.]
[However, Spartacus' fearless and reckless fighting style rendered Atalanta's attacks ineffective. She was soon kicked aside by the Berserker.]
[In response, Atalanta activated her Noble Phantasm, unleashing a rain of arrows that broke Spartacus' arm and knocked him to the ground.]
[But as Atalanta let her guard down, Spartacus rose again, catching her off guard.]
Spartacus: "Haha! Down with the oppressors!"
Illya: "Wait, wasn't Spartacus your ally? How do you not know his abilities?"
Atalanta: "…"
Atalanta: "Ahem, we've only been working together for less than a day. It's normal not to understand each other yet."
[Elsewhere, Chiron and Achilles were locked in battle, with Achilles finally taking the fight seriously.]
[But Chiron, being Achilles' mentor, knew his fighting style intimately.]
[Dodging Achilles' attack with ease, Chiron shot an arrow at close range, grazing Achilles' forehead before sending him flying with a powerful kick.]
["You've seen through my techniques. But this isn't something you taught me."]
[Achilles shifted tactics, throwing his meteor spear as a distraction before landing a powerful kick that knocked Chiron back.]
[He quickly retrieved his spear and thrust it forward, but Chiron dodged with sharp reflexes.]
[Despite the shift in strategy, Chiron's strength and experience allowed him to hold his ground.]
Chiron: "Well done, Achilles."
Achilles: "Haha, thanks, teacher. Your skill is as sharp as ever."
Iskandar: "This battle between mentor and student is far more entertaining."
[Meanwhile, Astolfo reached the top of the Hanging Gardens and came face-to-face with Semiramis.]
["You must be the Red faction's Caster! Get ready!"]
[Semiramis smirked. "Wrong guess. I am the Red faction's Assassin, though I dabble in magic as well."]
[With a wave of her hand, magic circles appeared around Astolfo, erupting with bolts of lightning.]
Tohsaka Rin: "'Dabbles in magic'? That's a bit of an understatement."
Caules: "How is this Assassin-class?"
Waver: "Semiramis has completely redefined the Assassin class."
[When the smoke cleared, Astolfo emerged unharmed, shielded by a golden barrier.]
[A golden, glowing book rested in his arms, its presence clearly the source of the barrier.]
Semiramis: "Huh? You blocked everything?"
Astolfo: "Behold the power of my Noble Phantasm, Casseur de Logistille!"
Gordes: "Idiot! Why would you reveal your Noble Phantasm's name like that?"
Astolfo: "Uh…"
The entire Black faction collectively sighed.
Celenike: "Astolfo, you're banned from speaking in the group ever again!!!"
***
Bonus chp